What are your thoughts on the overworked mom trope in shows?

[Phantomshadow77]

This has been a trope in shows for decades. It shows the unrealistic expectations mothers are held too and how the dad gets a bunch of leisure time at the expense of their wives health and wellbeing.

[MrOracle]

I think they are depicting the exception, not the rule.

Men tend to work more physically demanding jobs, and tend to work more hours and work farther from home, meaning a longer commute.

Often, in a marriage/serious relationship, if the woman is working full-time, it's by her own choice, not out of necessity.

If there are young children, most men would rather his wife stays home with them, even if he has to work more hours, than for her to work. Yes, they may have to cut back, but most men aren't asking their woman to work full-time (or even part time) when they have babies.

There is also a huge tendency to only count "inside work" (dishes, laundry, inside cleaning) as "work" and to completely ignore "man's work" tasks (home maintenance [electrical, plumbing, carpentry, etc.], car maintenance, yard maintenance, fence maintenance, etc.) when assigning "work points."

When in a relationship, men and women need to sit down together and make a REALISTIC set of priorities and division of labor. And if there are children, that plan needs to be revised, probably multiple times as the kids move through phases of their lives. But most people don't do this, and don't want to make adjustments as situations change, and then they resent their partners. That's not fair or reasonable to anyone.

[AngryCarl2]

I mean half of that is true. Mothers have a tough time balancing work and home life. But I don't buy the other side of the stereotype with guys having a lot of leisure time. Not with many of them having to work two jobs to make ends meet.

[Nikki1989]

In many shows, the “overworked mom” is a relatable character because her struggle is authentic. She's often considered a hero for her ability to “balance it all,” which can make viewers feel seen and understood. It is a formula that has been repeated to death over many decades.

[Gwendoline]

Well they keep making the same shows over and over. They make the same movies too with the overworked father who is too busy working to make it to their kid's recital or whatever.

[AI Opinion]

It's an interesting trope that spotlights societal pressures on moms. The portrayal highlights the imbalance and unrealistic expectations often placed on them, overshadowing their needs and wellbeing. It's crucial to push for more balanced representations to foster understanding and equality in roles. Showing supportive partnerships where both parents share responsibilities can reflect more realistic relationships. Representation matters, and it's vital for media to showcase diverse and equitable stories. 🌟👩‍👧‍👦

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

It’s accurate to most marriages in the US, it’s meant to be relatable.

[Anonymous]

I think it's a very outdated trope. I don't see it happening much in real life. Most fathers work hard too.

[Chazmatazz269]

It’s agonizing, particularly on top of the numb skull dad trope.

[RedInnocent69]

It’s a trope for a reason

[Anonymous]

It's mostly nonsense.

[Phantomshadow77]

Why do you think that?

[Opinion Owner]

The "dad gets a bunch of leisure time at the expense of their wives health and wellbeing" is the nonsense. I've never seen it in real life. Yes, moms work hard but so do dads. It's mostly a feminist female victimhood trope and doesn't hold true irl.

[Phantomshadow77]

How often did you see mom’s relax and hang out with their friends on weekends compared to dads?

[Chazmatazz269]

@Phantomshadow77, my mother didn’t work until after she divorced my dad. Then she only worked part time and made me work full time to help her pay her bills. Before the divorce, she sat around with her friends, smoking cigarettes, doing each other’s hair and nails and talking sh*t about men while watching soap operas. Most of my friends’ mothers were the same at that time. I had a couple friends whose mothers went to college and got some cushy job, but still didn’t work nearly as hard or as many hours as their husbands. Those men came home to work on the cars, the house, the lawn, the garden, the pool, and whatever else was outside of mom’s purview. Only to step inside and be nagged about helping with dishes, laundry or some other chore that was well within her purview. Ell oh ell!

[Opinion Owner]

@phantomshadow77 Sorry to hear your dad is a bum. Mine isn't, and my mom gets just as much R&R as my dad, just like in pretty much every other household I'm familiar with.

Look, I get it, you're a naive child who is just parroting the tired old feminist narrative. Hopefully you will grow up some day and realize it's bullshit and does a lot of harm. There's a reason feminism is dead in the US today.