Full House

This week I am writing my blog about an episode of Full House. In this episode Joey is offered the opportunity to take his comedy show on a six week college tour. At first, even though he is really excited about being offered such an exciting opportunity, he doesn’t think that he should go because he should be there for the family and to take care of the three girls. This is sending a gender message contradictory to the social accepted idea that women, not men, hold the responsibility of caring for the children and household. In Full House though the family is headed by three single men, there are no woman in the family except for the three daughters. This show sends a message that even though it is not typical, men are capable of caring for and nurturing woman. Even though this is the message of the show, there is some humor throw into the episodes that reinforce the ideas that women are the sensitive, emotional gender and men are the work centered bread-winners.

This show use humor and funny situations to send the message that even though these three men are successfully running a family and household without any women around, they still are out of place doing things like ironing and cooking. (Things that would typically be considered domestic, feminine chores.) Danny holds the head (masculine) role in the family. The three girl are his daughters. He makes all the final decisions about what the family and children can do. He especially is dominant in financial situations and decisions. Joey and Jesse alternate as the feminine or secondary role in the family. They are the ones that do the household chores, care for the girls, cook dinner, and chauffer the girls between their various after school activities.

Because Danny is the masculine figure in the family and he is the one that holds the final say so, this show sends the message that men (being the masculine figures) are in charge and are the heads of families. They make the decisions and the feminine (typically women) figure/figures are there for suppose and assistance (and make sure the household runs smoothly). Danny is never once seen cleaning or cooking himself during the episode, but both Joey and Jesse are seen multiple times through the show dressed in aprons roaming around the kitchen.

Along with the previous messages I have talked about, this show also sends the message that men are out of place in the kitchen and household and that they belong out in the working world. This is shown because while it is true Joey and Jesse are often doing domestic things they also, often, look out of place doing such things. For example, when Joey is ironing clothes in the kitchen he beings playing the drums on the ironing board. By making this scene into a humorous situation the show is demonstrating that Joey is out of place doing household chores. A few moments later when he voices his concerns about leaving the kids and house for six weeks while he goes on tour Danny and Jesse tell him that he should go and it will be great for his career. This says that the main job of a male is to have a successful career and bring money home to the family. Taking care of the house and children is a secondary figures (feminine figures) job.