Did you happen to catch the episode 5 of the Conners this year? The title of the episode was "Miracles."The plot is Becky is unexpectedly pregnant after being told it is highly improbable she will ever have a child. Close to Christmas, and in need of ratings this is a clever plot for sure. However, what went on during this episode that went unnoticed is the storyline of the father. Whether intended or not, this show summarized the war on Fatherhood over the past 50 years. Mission accomplished, Dads do not matter. A chilling account how a Mom determines the participation of fathers in raising a child. No issues of abuse or neglect. In fact, the mom is neglectful. She hardly can stay sober during the pregnancy, but she decides who raises the child. Sound familiar?
In the episdoe, Becky had mulitple partners and does not know who the father is at first. In her mind, if it is the manager, okay he can be the dad.He has money. If it is the busboy, forget about it because he can not financially support Becky and her child. That's the barometer I have been writing about for 10 years that dictates a father's worth. The Conners validated it bluntly and honestly.
The episode continues with devaluing fatherhood. The producers of the show strengthened the narrative by suggesting 2 other scenarios for the baby because Becky is unsure of herself as a fit mother. Both scenarios involve surragate parents that are, yep you guessed it women. Bad enough the biological dad is disenfranchised, the show goes on further to make sure fatherhood figures are disqualified from parenting. Not once was a father figure ever considered as a option for parenting the child.
One could argue that Roseanne offered a positive role as Dan has always been a part of the show. This is just a creative spinoff and I am over reacting. The point is the show captures today's attitudes towards Dads. Roseanne first aired in 1988. This show reflects the values of fathers in 2018.Hopefully the Conners will dig deeper into fatherhood struggles. I am looking forward to an episode, any episode that discusses the morality of putting the wrong fathers name on a birth certificate, or the CPS calls against dad so he can lose his rights to be a parent. I am not sure those storylines are in development. Doubt a storyline like these would ever see the light of day. On a postiive note hoping down the road we will witness positive stories that encourage fatherhood.
Author's notes: Since this episode, the storyline moved on. No father involved in the raising of the baby. Life imitates art sometimes.
(The show deserves credit for one postiive fatherhood storyline - DJ - Dan's son is a responsible father. The show should develop this storyline as a better representation of the value of fathers in a child's life.)
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