Top 10 TV Feminist Dads
Posted by gansie on June 19, 2009
We all know the terrible Homer Simpson stereotype: fat, lazy, stupid father that marries a totally-together, attractive, smart woman. But you know what, sometimes pop culture surprises us.
In time for Father’s Day, here’s a salute to all those TV dads that proved it’s cool to fold laundry, care for kids and make dinner.
Top 10 TV Feminist Dads
1. Cliff Huxtable, The Cosby Show…because playing an active role in his kids’ life was almost as important as sneaking unhealthy sandwiches.
2. Danny Tanner, Joey Gladstone and Uncle Jessie, Full House…because raising three daughters takes the strength of three people.
3. Steven Keaton, Family Ties…because a free-loving hippy can grow up to be a responsible father.
4. Andy Taylor, The Andy Griffith Show…because being a single dad in the ‘60s was revolutionary.
5. Dan Conner, Roseanne…because as Roseanne as a wife, he deserved a trophy just for that.
6. Papa Smurf, The Smurfs…because leading a pack of little blue creatures is not an easy feat.
7. Charles “Papa” Ingalls, Little House on the Prairie…because he treated his daughters as equals even back in Frontier times.
8. Flex, One on One…because a former NBA player can successfully play the role of a single dad to a teenage girl, too.
9. Jason Seaver, Growing Pains…because working from home gave him the flexibility to be both bread winner and active father.
10. Michael Taylor and Joey Harris, My Two Dads…because even if biology didn’t make them dads, grounding their daughter for dating surely did.
Do you have a feminist dad in your life? Honor him this Father’s Day by making a donation to Business and Professional Women’s Foundation. We support families in our endeavor to create successful workplaces; because if we didn’t have families—what are we working for?
PS–Did we miss your favorite TV dad? Tell us about it!
Katrina said
Wait, how exactly is grounding a daughter for dating pro-feminist?
Becky said
Exactly, Katrina! What the hell?!
Sue said
One dad that was not listed was Mike Brady from the Brady Bunch. I mean, sometimes he worked at home and he treated his wife well and loved his daughters equally to his sons.
Debra Combs said
I can’t believe that no one mentioned 7th Heaven. Stephen Collins, Eric Camden the Pastor. I would have loved to have a father like that. Anyone else agree????
Debra Combs
Jackie Vongsouvanh said
Another dad that was missing from your list is Carl Winslow from Family Matters. Although, Carl was a cop, he never treated or disciplined his kids as a cop. Good job, Carl!
Joyinhome said
I mentioned Carl Winslow and was vetoed because of his temper…