Back in the day, the only mothers that women could see portrayed on TV were of the stay at home variety. Women were expected to take care of the kids and the household a la June Cleaver. However, in the 1970s a new wave came to television which showed women working outside the household. TV is supposed to be representative of real people and in this case, the shift in women’s representation was groundbreaking.
Clair Huxtable: Iconic Mother Challenging Women’s Roles
Clair Huxtable was one of the quintessential moms shown on TV in the 1980s. Clair was the matriarch of The Cosby Show and was played by Phylicia Rashad. The character was both a mother and an attorney who places importance on both child-rearing and having an amazing career. Clair is notable for being a feminist icon and she showcases her power in regard to her career and as a mother. Some of Clair’s notable moments include dealing with her male chauvinist son-in-law named Elvin. One such TV moment was so popular that it was immediately featured on news programs and referred to as a “feminist rant”. The Cosby Show was groundbreaking in numerous aspects and Phylicia individually won two NAACP Image Awards for her role and was also twice-nominated for an Emmy Award.
