Stratification Through the Eyes of a Child
Stratification Through the Eyes of a Child Upon viewing the Nickelodeon television show, Rugrats, I realized how much of an influence television has on children. Not only does the television teach children how to lie, it also shows them the roles that parents play in society as we “should” know it. The superior attitude of the female and the masculinity of the male are very apparent on television. In the program, we see how Stew, the clueless father, plays the role of the manly father where in many cases his wife refers to him as being over worked and requests that he should get his rest. Dee-Dee is the mother who exhibits the caretaker of the house and a much more lady-like figure. In this episode, an African American family moves in across the street. The woman in the family is highly educated and often is seen as the elite of the two wives. The husband is an idol to Stew and judging by their dialogue he has a very important job. Both families have children and never is money discussed throughout both viewed episodes. The one object of the cartoon that I believe should have the most effect on the audience is the working class, or the movers of the neighbors into their new house. Stew often acts very questionable and is never firm with his responses. It is obvious to the audience that he is not sure what he is talking about, but his wife is plainly clear that what he says must be right and follows his lead. He is assigned a project to assemble and it is obvious that he is not very patient and quickly throws out the instructions and attempts to assemble it himself.