| Do you pay attention to how the mom characters are portrayed on your favorite TV shows? Loathe the so-called "mommy wars" on which the news media love to focus? Each week, Meredith O'Brien's Working Moms in Pop Culture & Politics column provides a reality check on how TV shows, movies, and the media depict moms. A longtime journalist and mother of three, Meredith O'Brien formerly taught journalism at the University of Massachusetts, is the author of A Suburban Mom: Notes from the Asylum and writes the Picket Fence Post blog for GateHouse Media. Follow Meredith on Twitter: @MeredithOBrien |  |
Hooray for Modern American Parenting Portrayals.
I adored Malcolm in the Middle, the show about a wacky married couple with four boys (two juvenile delinquents, one genius and one innocent object of his brothers’ harassment). more
A Woman's Place.
The past week as I read various magazines, I noticed something: Women’s lives were being dissected, placed into historical context, their “real” bodies – not just pencils with heads – were prominently showcased and women’s “midlife” was called “the new seventh grade” and an opportunity in which to reinvent themselves. more
Up Up and No Way.
While my husband and I were preparing dinner for our three kids Thursday night, our hearts were in our throats. Why? The balloon boy. We didn’t yet know the fate of 6-year-old Falcon Heene. more
Join the Health Care Reform Debate.
Before the end of this calendar year, it’s highly likely members of the U.S. Congress will cast votes on a subject that affects each and every one of us: The future of our health insurance coverage. more
Cougar Town & New Adventures of Old Christine Critiqued.
They both have long brown hair that’s got a killer shine. They’re petite and wear fashionable, form fitting attire. Both are divorced and have one child. They’re working mothers who are insecure about the dating scene, and lack confidence in themselves and in their appeal to the opposite sex despite the fact that they’re attractive. more
Emmy Awards Recap.
The suave, quiet desperation of Mad Men and the in-your-face witty snark that is 30 Rock triumphed during the 61st Emmy awards. Though the two critically acclaimed, albeit relatively low-rated shows didn’t rule the night as far as the rest of the Emmy awards were concerned – they were up for more awards than they got, particularly 30 Rock -- their best drama and best comedy nods were richly deserved. more
Prime-Time Fall Favorites.
The kids are back in school. The crisp edge of autumn can be felt in
the air, at least here in New England where I live. Aside from the
apple picking, pumpkin carving and fall festival attending to which
many folks look forward, there’s one more reason to embrace this time
of year: New TV shows premiering.
Bad Dads.
I’m not, by nature, a hater. My writing doesn’t usually include personal attacks. Unlike some poison pen scribes who hold nothing back while they gleefully and snarkily lambaste others, I usually try to maintain an even keel, sometimes using humor or sarcasm to get my point across. So it’s atypical for me to feel compelled to give two narcissistic, clueless fathers of young children a verbal vivisection, to hurl names at them and to beseech them to just shut their traps. more
Julie & Julia: Switching Gears.
Her career of choice commenced when she was in her late 30s, after her first career in government service during World War II had concluded. “I was 37 years old, and still discovering who I was,” she said. more
