The repeated stereotyping of dads as ‘lazy or stupid’ on TV shows, adverts and in books has been criticised by a new survey, it was reported in mid-June.
Online parents group, Netmums, quizzed 2,000 people and nine out of ten said the portrayal of dads was flawed. Almost half of parents polled slammed books, adverts and children’s TV shows like Peppa Pig, The Simpsons and the Flintstones which show dads as lazy or stupid. Almost a third of parents, claimed there is a very subtle form of discrimination against dads.
A further 18% were more strident, saying it makes children believe dads are useless from an early age and there would be an outcry if it was done against mums.
Never harder
Netmums founder Siobhan Freegard said: ‘It’s never been harder to be a father — but good dads have never been more needed by their families. So it seems perverse we are telling men to step up and be involved, while running them down in the media. The type of jokes aimed at dads would be banned if they were aimed at women, ethnic minorities or religious groups’.
