[dionidium]

I have to say, I find this sentiment confusing and unimaginative. Progressives never stop talking about all the subtle impediments to progress felt by marginalized groups -- microaggressions, stereotype threat, not seeing people who look like you in positions of power, what it's like to hold beliefs not shared by the dominant culture, etc, etc.

But then they express disbelief when a member of a group they've deemed to be "powerful" responds similarly to cultural messaging. If you're a slightly conservative/traditional person in a university or even just a major U.S. city, you're going to be bombarded with messaging that implies non-traditional choices should be exalted and that your traditional choices should at least be viewed with suspicion. Progressives of all people should understand why that might result in someone with traditional beliefs internalizing the notion that their choices are bad. "We're not saying your choices are bad, we're just saying over and over and over again that the other choices are good."

We're told that depictions of minorities in media can have powerful, life-altering effects, but when every commercial depicts dads as bumbling idiots and family life as chaotic and undesirable [0], suddenly there are no conceivable implications?

It's all pretty straightforward if you just take your own arguments seriously (and remember that individuals experience the world as individuals, even if they're part of some group you perceive to be privileged).

[0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kEYp6OY7BI

[phailhaus]

> "We're not saying your choices are bad, we're just saying over and over and over again that the other choices are good."

I think if anyone is being honest with themselves, this is not a threat. "Traditional choices" are still strongly represented in popular (liberal) media as the implicit default, and is still by far the "social default." Nobody gets ostracized for becoming a stay-at-home mom, and the breadwinner dad never has to explain themselves. I think we should be asking who is peddling the narrative that this is a "plot" to destroy their identity, and who gains. It is extremely effective at creating political unity.

It is hard to argue that "progressive media has gone too far", when the Texas GOP literally just declared homosexuality as abnormal as a part of their official platform. Traditionalism still rules.

[mcphage]

> but when every commercial depicts dads as bumbling idiots and family life as chaotic and undesirable [0], suddenly there are no conceivable implications?

“Dads are numbing idiots” and “family life is chaotic and undesirable” are not progressive messages at all in any way, shape, or form. I agree with you, they’re terrible, and I hate them. But I think they’re the last remnants of Al Bundy era baby boomer “I hate my wife and my kids” messaging.

For an actual progressive take on dads and family life, check out the kids show Bluey.

[touisteur]

+1 for the Bluey suggestion. The show is very sweet and funny, multi-layered, positive, caring.

[glenngillen]

Bluey was criticised for the exact same tropes. That the dad was the fun idiot who was incapable of doing basic organisational things like packing towels to go swimming.

[mcphage]

> That the dad was the fun idiot who was incapable of doing basic organisational things like packing towels to go swimming.

That had to be written by either someone who only saw a single episode—or is performing such an incredible misreading of the show that I’d expect if they read “A Modest Proposal”, they’d wonder what spices Jonathan Swift used on his babies.

[ladyattis]

The bumbling idiot dad meme is just Mr. Mom being repackaged which I'm sure even Mr. Mom is just a repackaging of an earlier comedic trope along the same lines. I don't think these commercials are a magical threat to the health or wellbeing of the nuclear family.

[dionidium]

Frankly, I'm also a little bit skeptical that the manner in which people who look you are depicted on television is a significant factor in anyone's life, but the point here is that it's an explicitly professed progressive belief. I'm really just asking people to take their own arguments seriously (or don't). You will never hear a progressive dismiss the depiction in media of a minority group the way you've just dismissed depictions of family life.

[ladyattis]

It's likely because it's funny and somewhat true. Usually both parents are just as hapless when caring for their kids since it's not exactly something you train up for historically.