General Discussion

NanaCat

(2,332 posts)

18. June Cleaver wasn't the stereotype of a housewife

Reply to Tom of Temecula (Original post)

Fri Mar 8, 2024, 02:18 PM

Mar 2024

The show never intended her to be any kind of shrinking violet. More careful viewing makes it clear that she had serious feminist leanings, despite the 50s misogyny:

And remember that she was always the one who saw right through Eddie Haskell, better than anyone. June was always the smartest Cleaver.

Donna Reed was another one who was always much stronger and smarter than one would have expected.

It's sort of weird now to see all of the subtle ways those TV mom actresses were chipping at the edges of the 'stereotypical' housewife image.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

5 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Hekate kcoates niyad TSExile senseandsensibility

65 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Ex-Trump aide says GOP women disgusted that Katie Britt was put in the kitchen [View all] Tom of Temecula Mar 2024 OP

Being "down home-like" did not work out so well. ProudMNDemocrat Mar 2024 #1

Right.. Too close to home Optics. lol.. It is Disasterous Cha Mar 2024 #61

If only they'd had her making cookies or Chex Mix while giving the rebuttal. tanyev Mar 2024 #2

Cookies Bernardo de La Paz Mar 2024 #46

GOP thinking that Stepford Wives vote is a very big vulnerability they just can't seem to learn from Attilatheblond Mar 2024 #3

That's because they let the MAGA men be in charge. pandr32 Mar 2024 #4

I'm sort of surprised the GOP women were surprised about the kitchen location. Biophilic Mar 2024 #5

Yep. GOP women have not been paying attention. Irish_Dem Mar 2024 #10

That's it misanthrope Mar 2024 #27

Yes the laws and rules are for other people. Irish_Dem Mar 2024 #43

Kinder, Kuche, Kirche barbaraann Mar 2024 #6

This! CelticCrow Mar 2024 #12

The link about the role of women in Nazi Germany was very appropos, thanks! ShazzieB Mar 2024 #32

Oh, duh! I did actually know that! barbaraann Mar 2024 #38

Professional women do not hold top level meetings in a kitchen. Irish_Dem Mar 2024 #7

They are obviously going for Tree Lady Mar 2024 #8

GOP woman's place is something the voters need to remember in November. Kid Berwyn Mar 2024 #9

I think at this point you are seeing a party which is clearly EarlG Mar 2024 #11

They knew what they were getting into. Johnny2X2X Mar 2024 #13

Plus there was the breathy, little girl voice. MineralMan Mar 2024 #14

ICYMI - 1 minute clip / parody Pluvious Mar 2024 #55

Thanks! MineralMan Mar 2024 #60

If she is so "serious" and has "policy chops"... harumph Mar 2024 #15

More important, why did she work on the bi-partisan border bill and then let Daddy Trump tell her to vote against it? emulatorloo Mar 2024 #35

Exactly. chowder66 Mar 2024 #40

Trump's VP liberalmuse Mar 2024 #16

Claire McCaskill's kitchen looks warm and homey, but this one looked gray & unlived-in... Hekate Mar 2024 #17

During covid restrictions, it used to fascinate me to see the various niyad Mar 2024 #49

Just a simple kitchen, right? Nevilledog Mar 2024 #57

June Cleaver wasn't the stereotype of a housewife NanaCat Mar 2024 #18

Thank you for your post, that clip. People tended to overlook that it was niyad Mar 2024 #50

The Grand Old Patriarchy wouldn't like the real Donna. TSExile Mar 2024 #58

Was hoping she'd open the freezer limbicnuminousity Mar 2024 #19

Maybe she needed to be near the onions, so.. LudwigPastorius Mar 2024 #20

Her leg irons didn't stretch to the living room Warpy Mar 2024 #21

Nice of Republicans to let women know their place. Kablooie Mar 2024 #22

I like the kitchen. I am a male. Is that allowed? twodogsbarking Mar 2024 #23

True. But she is a US Senator talking politics. AllyCat Mar 2024 #25

Yeah, I got that. She was wearing the "T" too. twodogsbarking Mar 2024 #29

Fuck Republican women. ismnotwasm Mar 2024 #24

Not to mention the fact that the type of kitchen she was in is NOT Sogo Mar 2024 #26

June Cleaver said the first pornographic line on tv in 1957... rubbersole Mar 2024 #28

I interviewed her back when I was still working, and I swear - calimary Mar 2024 #56

You nearly owed me a keyboard! niyad Mar 2024 #59

In other words, they couldn't have picked better. Dem2theMax Mar 2024 #30

"They" put her in a kitchen... like she doesn't have agency. RockRaven Mar 2024 #31

Katie agreed to perform the role of the conservative, cross wearing, cleavage baring, needing protection, trad wife. Freethinker65 Mar 2024 #33

Whatever role she was playing... Hope22 Mar 2024 #39

Marsha Blackburn wanted to do it... rubbersole Mar 2024 #64

It plays with their male dominated base Renew Deal Mar 2024 #34

I heard an interesting take Traildogbob Mar 2024 #36

They also want women to have I_UndergroundPanther Mar 2024 #63

I don't blame Republican women for being pissed off, BUT... ShazzieB Mar 2024 #37

I couldn't watch more than a few seconds. Did they ever confirm she was barefoot? Hermit-The-Prog Mar 2024 #52

I don't think so. ShazzieB Mar 2024 #53

I always fumble with the remote when I need to hit a button really fast. :D Hermit-The-Prog Mar 2024 #54

These women are willfully blind BeyondGeography Mar 2024 #41

If "GOP women" aren't already disgusted by the direction their party has taken robbob Mar 2024 #42

The only 'chops' this lady had was pork ones....what other chops you need in that kitchen? GuppyGal Mar 2024 #44

Nothing a good pat on the head snd maybe some flowers wont fix getagrip_already Mar 2024 #45

So Did She Conceive Her Two Children Deep State Witch Mar 2024 #47

Republicans: "Is this not your natural state?" Grokenstein Mar 2024 #48

Golly gee, gop women, where the F'n HELL have you been as your niyad Mar 2024 #51

They're mad because putting her in the kitchen Hassler Mar 2024 #62

Well Katie can take her Project 2025 BS and shove it‼️ LetMyPeopleVote Mar 2024 #65