Does father still know best? An inductive thematic analysis of popular TV sitcoms

Fathering, Spring, 2009 by Timothy Allen Pehlke, II, Charles B. Hennon, M. Elise Radina, Katherine A. Kuvalanka

Domestic situational television comedies were examined for various themes of father involvement. Twelve programs from the six major networks were recorded during the fall 2004 season. All instances that involved either discussion or fulfillment of the father role were transcribed. Inductive thematic analysis led to the identification of three themes: various ways fathers interact with children (spending quality time, emotion-based behaviors, and teaching life lessons); how fathers of varying racial/ethnic groups and socioeconomic status are depicted; and negative messages regarding fathering (foolish or immature behaviors and being the butt of family members' jokes). Fathers in family-based sitcoms engage in a variety of actions that transmit both positive and negative messages about their place within the family. These messages are consistent with the difficulty associated with fathering in contemporary families, a role whose expectations are often ambiguous.

Keywords: fathers, media, family sitcoms, fatherhood, fathers' roles

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Social scientists have recently devoted increased attention to the relationship between American families and the mass media. The bulk of this work has focused upon female gender stereotypes and discriminatory portrayals of women (Elasmar, Hasegawa, & Brain, 1999; Ovellette & Hay, 2008; Signorelli & Bacue, 1999), as well as changing portrayals of television families over time (Douglas, 1996; Douglas & Olson, 1995, 1996; Olson & Douglas, 1997). Although these studies provide important insights into how women and families are portrayed in the mass media, there remains a paucity of research on representations of fatherhood within television's familial households, the issue addressed in the study reported here.

This study focuses on family-based situational comedies, or television sitcoms--half-hour, nationally syndicated, prime-time programs where the "main characters are members of a family and in which the major portion of action is among family members, usually in the home" (Butsch, 1992, p. 388). Television sitcoms have widespread acclaim, with at least one such program ranked in the Nielsen Top 20 most watched programs every season for the past 50 years (e.g., Lackmann, 2003). Well-known examples include I Love Lucy, Father Knows Best, and The Cosby Show. The success of the sitcom has been attributed to two factors: the family as a plot device, and the home as a central setting (Douglas, 2003). Indeed, perhaps more than any other genre, "the domestic situation comedy, or family sitcom, has a rich history of depicting and transmitting American families into viewers' homes" (Olson & Douglas, 1997, p. 409).

Qualitative research methods were utilized in the present study to examine representations of fatherhood displayed in recent, non-animated television sitcoms on U.S. network television. Fictional families in non-animated television sitcoms model contemporary family life and have been viewed as important socializing agents, as they "offer implicit lessons about appropriate family life" (Douglas & Olson, 1996, p. 77). Further, these television families seem to "affect the way in which people think about marriage and the family," as both married and divorced individuals have cited the use of such portrayals as guides for their own behavior (Douglas & Olson, p. 77). Despite the popularity and influence of non-animated television sitcoms, they have been understudied in regards to how they represent fathers and fathering to viewers. The present study examined 12 domestic sitcoms, all of which aired on the six major networks during the fall 2004 season. The goals of this study were to: (a) describe ways that fathering/fatherhood were portrayed, (b) identify meanings related to fathering, and (c) note similarities and differences that occur across programs. An inductive thematic analysis was used to accomplish these goals. Prior to sharing study findings, a review of the relevant literature is presented.

Television as a Mechanism for Learning about Father Roles

Television viewing has the potential to influence people's understanding of the diverse ways in which fathers carry out their roles in families. This in turn may have a powerful effect on how the father role is enacted and evaluated in daily family life. Information processing theory provides a useful context for understanding such an influence, arguing that as individuals watch television, they use various cognitive schemas to organize the observed phenomena (Lemish, 2007). Often, the "new" information is considered in a way that "fits" with previously held beliefs. In other cases, the schema is modified to accommodate new information. These schemas are formed and modified throughout life; media serves as a likely influence, as the previously held schema "guides interpretation of encounters with ... TV characters" (Lemish, p. 102).

The National Institute of Mental Health sponsored a comprehensive review of literature published prior to 1982 on how television influenced behavior (Pearl, Bouthilet, & Lazar, 1982). Much of this literature focused upon negative aspects of television viewing, including the portrayal of excessive violence and unhealthy habits without associated consequences. A brief section of this review was devoted to the positive aspects of television viewing, such as influences on altruism, friendliness, self-control, and the ability to cope with fear. Subsequent studies have revealed how television can be an important source of information about gender and family roles. Coltrane and Adams (1997) examined the prevalence of gender stereotypes in television commercials airing from 1992-1994 during Nielsen Top 20 programs. While the authors found little movement in comparison to earlier studies, including continued objectification of women and stereotypical male behaviors, the portrayal of passive and emotional behaviors was nearly as common among men as women. Further, through reality television shows, parents can learn about and implement better parenting practices, as shows such as Supernanny present "strategies for informal learning through acquisition of guidelines and strategies" (Ovellette & Hay, 2008, p. 97). Fictional television shows may also influence people's notions of family; for example, youth who watched fictional television programs frequently were found to be more likely to believe that real life families show comfort and support (Buerkel-Rothfuss, Greenburg, Atkin, & Neuendorf, 1982).