I've been watching a lot of "Leave It to Beaver" lately, and I thoroughly enjoy it. It's a sweet, fun, and wonderful show. Honestly, it's one of the most heartwarming looks at the American family that I've ever seen.
Ward is loving (and kind of sexy...), responsible, firm but not overbearing, strong but not abusive of his strength, and a father who is involved with the lives of his children. He takes an active role in teaching them right from wrong, but he does not do it with an iron fist. He knows when to step back and allow them to make their own decisions, but he always keeps an eye on them. He loves his wife, and he supports her. He doesn't complain about her being a "nag". Unlike the bumbling idiot sitcom fathers and husbands of today, Ward Cleaver is an excellent example of what a husband and a father should be. He honors his wife and treats her like a man SHOULD treat his wife. He never complains about her or calls her names, or compares her to the movie stars in an effort to complain about her looks.
Something I really can't understand the more that I watch this show is why so many women insist upon calling June Cleaver "oppressed". The more I look at this woman, fake as she may be, the less I see a symbol of oppression. Honestly, what I see is a happy, free-spirited woman who is as involved in the raising of her children as her husband is. Yes, she works inside the home, but what if that was her choice? Her husband always consults her before he makes any decision about their children to get her input. She loves Ward just as much as he loves her and gets as much respect from him as she gives. How many times do you see her acting like a slave? I don't think I've seen that. What I see playing out on that television show is an active partnership, something that is missing on television today.
The sitcom wives of today are much more "oppressed", in my opinion. ALL of them seem to be these nasty, cranky, unhappy women who can't stand their husbands or their children. They complain all the time about their miserable husbands and their bratty kids, and all they do is shop, bitch, work, bitch, and turn their husbands down for sex, which their husbands are never able to stop thinking about or talking about, by the way. The sitcom wives are much more appearance-conscious than Mrs. Cleaver ever was. All they ever talk or think about besides their miserable husbands and children is the size of their butts and how attractive they "are not". Mrs. Cleaver was happy to wear her hair the same way all the time, and knew she looked beautiful in her simple dresses. She didn't need to be a sexpot who worried about maybe putting on a few pounds if she ever did. She was simple, classy, and beautiful...and she knew Ward saw it.
So, who's oppressed? June Cleaver, or Debra Barone? June Cleaver, or Angie Lopez? June Cleaver, or Peg Bundy? June Cleaver, or Roseanne Conner? Howbout that complete she-devil from King of Queens (not that that woman's husband is a prize....)? What about Monica from Friends? Is it that June worked from home and was primarily a mother instead of a "career woman" that made her "oppressed"? So...career women can't be "oppressed"? I don't know, I think being a slave to the media's definitions of what beauty is and being a slave to your own misery is a bigger symbol of oppression.
Have we really evolved as a society? Think about it.
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1stsignofspring
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Oct 10 @ 12:00AM
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You know I like this blog LGQ....it is very refreshing to see someone your age actually even bothering to take a look at a subject that has endured many a ridicule or joke about. I for one think you have a brilliant mind and not because I may agree or disagree with your thoughts......but because you step back and observe, and think about what your are saying before speaking. It shows maturity, patience, and above all, a character that is fair and just. Don't ask me how I derived all of that out of your opinion of June cleaver... 
I believe you will be a mother and wife one day who would do June cleaver proud!  
ahem....only without the Beaver...  
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chevymn
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Oct 10 @ 12:17AM
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Thank you. Thank you. Thak you. I would love to find a woman like June. I would like more to find a career woman that is willing to share the house work and cooking. My mom reminds me of June. She did the house work, raised the kids, had dinner on the table everynight, and never complained. She also raised, and trained horses, aswell as had a part time job. She didn't care about the rest. She wanted horses, dad wanted to hunt and fish. The only agreement her and my dad had when they got married was this, dad told her "You can have anything you want aslong as you can find a way to afford it". He gave her the paycheck. The house is paid for, he has his guns and cows, she has her horses and soon to be a bigger house, sold her office to set up retirement, and they are both enjoying the time with their grandkids.Like you said. It's about a relationship. So many have no idea what that's about. AGREEMENT. Try it.
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kjac
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Oct 10 @ 12:20AM
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Me, I'd never call her oppressed. The word unrealistic does come to mind however.
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southernlass
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Oct 10 @ 12:48AM
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Something I really can't understand the more that I watch this show is why so many women insist upon calling June Cleaver "oppressed". The more I look at this woman, fake as she may be, the less I see a symbol of oppression. Honestly, what I see is a happy, free-spirited woman who is as involved in the raising of her children as her husband is. Yes, she works inside the home, but what if that was her choice? Her husband always consults her before he makes any decision about their children to get her input. She loves Ward just as much as he loves her and gets as much respect from him as she gives. How many times do you see her acting like a slave? I don't think I've seen that. What I see playing out on that television show is an active partnership, something that is missing on television today.
It's pretty much uncool to not appreciate the strides the women's movement have made in the life of women and their children. Unfortunately, somewhere when we gained our "independence," we also lost our men along the way. At one time, men were men, and they took care of their women. I'm not saying that they were entitled to a life of paying all the bills, but the primary role for men was that of the breadwinner, while women took care of the nest and the kids.
I'm a stay at home single mother to a degree, though I have worked out of the home off and on for brief periods of my daughter's childhood. I have a home based business, and after going to school for my masters, hope to eventually have a practice that brings in a decent income where I will work out of the home part time as time allows.
Should I marry again one day, I prefer the kind of man who is old fashioned, who treats me like a lady, who is the epidemy of a gentleman. I want an old fashioned relationship with all the romance that this entails, and all of the respect. I liked the Leave it to Beaver days and believe that women have lost something important along the way. I don't think they came out so well in the trade-off.
I prefer that my man be the head of the household as long as he respects my opinion and definitely remembers to ask me for it.
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alivenwell351
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Oct 10 @ 12:55AM
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The word unrealistic does come to mind however.
You mean your mom never cleaned house & cooked dinner in a party dress and heels???
Mine neither!!
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sweet5red
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Oct 10 @ 1:49AM
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ozzie and harriet were before june and ward.. and lets see donna reed..
( father knows best) my 3 sons.. but i did love roseann and dan connor they were different and such but they sure tried.. good blog daughter..  sweet N L and lets not forget the courtship of eddies father..
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DRACULA_VwV
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Oct 10 @ 1:52AM
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BionicCouple
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Oct 10 @ 2:39AM
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 ... simply brilliant!
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RightWingRepublican
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Oct 10 @ 2:40AM
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I support old fashioned values.
On the other hand, i'm the best person when it comes to my job. It's a mans world, but this woman has conquered it.
:)
Mrs. Clever, "Ward, don't you think you were a little hard on the Beaver last night?" (yeah, i went there)
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exvagabond
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Oct 10 @ 3:03AM
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Something I really can't understand the more that I watch this show is why so many women insist upon calling June Cleaver "oppressed". It's because in those days, half a century ago, most women didn't have much choice. Choice is the operative word here.
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Josuha
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Oct 10 @ 3:05AM
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Ward was the one 'oppressed'.
He worked his azz off to support some broad running around in a perma starched house dress and as far as I could tell, never got layed.
Then those two brats for boys he had to deal with.
Screw that wisdom and work your azz off crap..
He should have filed for divorce and moved out of town and bought a Harley.
Women's lib set men free.
I like my 'liberation'.
Pay your own damned bills.
And don't bother bringing over your toothbrush if you visit..you not staying that long.
And don't wake me up until I get up.
And if I want to pee off the back porch and get drunk..I will.
And I'll go hunting and fishing when I want.
No whining and bitching..
PEACE!
Don't call us..er..send a telegram..at the P.O. Box.
And no..I don't feel romantic.
I'm taking a nap.
(God..I've been wanting to express my liberty for a long time.)
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knotkeeno
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Oct 10 @ 3:10AM
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excellent blog. yes it reflects a lot of what i believe. but then, oprah and her man bashing and the general attitude of women not needing men sort of changed the way we think about each other.
my cat is named after wally cleaver. he's nice, well mannered and better looking than me.
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Always_Striving
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Oct 10 @ 4:36AM
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I enjoy watching nostalgia television shows and movies, also listening to vintage radio programming pre-television. I like reading the history of that time period as well to try and figure out what influenced people to think and react the way they did.
When you study that kind of history it is much easier to predict your world. People tend to forget things, their minds are numb. Those that know more history have a greater advantage in life. This includes world history not just history from our own country.
You will be amazed what you discover you will also be shocked or hurt at what has been hidden from you.
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jayej
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Oct 10 @ 6:30AM
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(God..I've been wanting to express my liberty for a long time.)
Now that you have that out of your system...
You think you could let the dogs out and make sure the cougars that have been stalking the neighborhood aren't prousing the chicken coop. I have dresses to starch..
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Josuha
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Oct 10 @ 6:33AM
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Now that you have that out of your system...
You think you could let the dogs out and make sure the cougars that have been stalking the neighborhood aren't prousing the chicken coop. I have dresses to starch..
How come I always have to go after the cougar?
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jayej
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Oct 10 @ 6:34AM
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How come I always have to go after the cougar?
Do you think it is easy to perma starch? Now git after that cougar....... 
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oct_cat
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Oct 10 @ 7:52AM
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LOL @ Jos and jay!!
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ragtopcookie
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Oct 10 @ 8:39AM
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Television programs have always had a way of distorting reality.......and its really sad for those that want to believe that this is how its suppose to work......maybe thats whats wrong with my generation.....no june cleavers.....or carol bradys out there.....i know for a fact...that im everything good that my parents were.......and i try to make up for what they were not.......it was the path in life i chose to follow......cookie
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bardnsage
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Oct 10 @ 9:58AM
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How come I always have to go after the cougar?
I like chasing cougars. 
But,, ,to the OP,,,
He doesn't complain about her being a "nag".
vs....
ALL of them seem to be these nasty, cranky, unhappy women who can't stand their husbands or their children. They complain all the time about their miserable husbands and their bratty kids, and all they do is shop, bitch, work, bitch, and turn their husbands down for sex
Is this the self fullfiling prophacy,,,
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LipGlossQueen9
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Oct 10 @ 12:23PM
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So....I dunno where I said that the character represented reality
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Tunes4u
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Oct 10 @ 1:02PM
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Nice post.
I always kinda liked the Andy Griffith Show.....
He was the sheriff, had a girlfriend, Aunt Bea kept the house together, and Oppie was a good boy.
We call that a dysfunctional family now..... 
~*~
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ttomtarr
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Oct 10 @ 3:11PM
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At the time when that show was first aired, a family could live on one person's salary, Many women sstayed at home tor make a comfortable home and raise their children. Now that is only the privelidge of the wealthy.
There are those who would "liberate" Mrs Cleaver whether she wanted it or not, to promote their own agenda.
Would June have been happier in business, competing ten hours a day with others whose sole aim in life is to amass material posessions? Would that have improved her life?
My mother ran a large foundry in the 1930s and early 40s. She tossed it to become a mother and housewife, and never spoke of any regrets.
At that time, housewives prided themselves on their abilities to make a happy home, gardening, decorating, and entertaining, as well as cooking sewing, and child raising, as opposed to many modern women whose pride lies in clever purchasing. Mom saw a good thing and went with it.
If the biblical "By their fruits you shall know them" still holds true, a look at childhood obesity, SAT scores, juvenile pregnancy, juvenile drug addiction, and juvenile crime statistics, shows those stay at home Moms were doing something right, including keeping Dad at home, evenings. And they and their families benefitted from their efforts.
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jayej
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Oct 10 @ 3:21PM
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There are those who would "liberate" Mrs Cleaver whether she wanted it or not, to promote their own agenda Bingo.
I did a blog one time on the accusation that the Rockefellers actually funded the planned parenthood and womens lib movement because they saw women as a vast number of tax payers they had not yet tapped.
I was so berated for suggesting women were not opressed for staying at home, that the benefits to the family unit outweighed the financial benefits.
I mean really.....who profitted the most from a two income household? It certainly was not the family unit or women. As I see it it just doubles the amount of responsibility, you work and still have to deal with the house and the kids. You end up tired, beat up, and stressed out at the end of the day.
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Snappygoddess
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Oct 10 @ 4:36PM
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I think being a slave to the media's definitions of what beauty is and being a slave to your own misery is a bigger symbol of oppression.
AGREED!!
Your mind is much older then your physical age Lip...your blog was refreshing and nice to read....thanks for sharing
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musicianfriend
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Oct 16 @ 4:04AM
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Mrs. Clever, "Ward, don't you think you were a little hard on the Beaver last night?" (yeah, i went there)
RWR..your to funny this week..thats two funny jokes..I think your on a roll!
I dont think June Cleaver was so unrealistic..I WAS June Cleaver...dress and all..I have lived that life....its was great....the best ever....
We lived in the country..so I had cattle...and had a band of broodmares...
We grew our own beef....and we grew our own veggies....I canned up the fruit and the veggies...made my own jelly...and made nutirtious home cooked meals..
I liked being June Cleaver..The kids loved it too..
I think feminism has made slaves out of women...I really do...I think its best that the children are raised by their own parents..instead of being farmed out..especially days..there is so much perversity..
the women my age and older...all are watching this younger generation...and we feel sorry for them...they work so hard...They have two jobs..instead of one..
Money isnt worth missing out on raising YOUR OWN child..You can always work later..like my aunt did..like I am doing...I think our culture puts way to much pressure on making money..
Like someone said here...feminism was pushed to make more tax money...I have read this too...plus...feminism was pushed to destroy families..because thats what makes a nation strong...as the children raised in traditional homes..are much more secure and confident..
I think you would be surprised how people actually can live on one income..with perhaps a part time job. if needed..ITs NOT just for the wealthy..
How come millions of illegals are doing it?
Where theres a will theres a way....
I sat down with one working mom and showed her how she could stay at home with the chitlings...
When mom is at home...
She cooks meals...so food is cheaper..they dont eat out as much... $200
She doesnt need work clothes....a few outfits will do for the homemaker job... $100
She doesnt use as much gas... $125
She doesnt need a new car...a grocery getter will do...no ferraris or vets. $350
Cheaper insurance on the old beater car.... $100
No lunch with the coworkers...thats pretty expensive.. $50
You dont have to hire the babysitter...geesh..thats about $400 a mo alone.. $400
When your out working...you do more shopping for junk... $125
You can buy a cheaper house...save $ per month.... $1000
total saved per month ..........$2450....
And thats a very conservative estimate...
I think people have forgotten how to live within a budget...
Get rid of the credit cards...live within your means...
Its possible to be a stay at home mom....
Just like its possible to BUY YOUR OWN INSURANCE TOO!
Try it.compute how much you save by just staying home...verses holding down a job...
I just hope that this generation will bring us back to June Cleaver...and raise American some well attended RESPECTFUL children that are under control and actually posses manners and respect their elders...along with happy mothers and fathers...Then...perhaps America will be happy again..
We just had a war about the 50's verses today...Theres just no comparison...It was good times back then...and we can have that again..
I remember my mom at home..all the kids in the neighborhood..smelling the moms cooking dinner all about the same time...it was great. There were NO latch key kids..Kids were happy..and they rarely dropped out of school...at least not where I lived..but then again..I actually lived in a town like Mayberry...lol
I love you blog LGQ! Excellent!
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Roverboy
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Oct 17 @ 1:58PM
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"...and the times, they are a-changin'..."
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