Response to “Marge Simpson, Blue Haired Housewife: Defining Domesticity on The Simpsons”

   The article is about an influential sitcom called The Simpsons in America. In this paper, Jessamyn argues to what extent does The Simpsons critique the idealized nuclear family and reaffirm its importance of contemporary society.

    There are some key terms in this article. Firstly, “idealized nuclear family” appears frequently, which is a family consists of parents and children, placid and well-ordered. Secondly, it mentions “family values” a lot, whose core values relate to love, loyalty and affection that help to build a solid nuclear family. Thirdly, “idealized housewife” is a term that is discussed. In traditional view, an “idealized housewife” is supposed to be domestic, beautiful, obedient, and maternal.

       To develop the argument, Jessamyn focuses on two big elements of this sitcom: satire and sentiment. Obviously, satire is a feature of this sitcom. At first, the author states that The Simpsons satirizes the idealized family sitcoms of the past. For example, in an idealized family, harmony is necessary and father is excellent. In contrast, the Simpson family is bickering and Homer as a father is really a buffoon. Of course, The Simpsons also satirizes many other aspects of American society. However, despite satire, it is actually a sitcom to affirm family values regularly. For example, episodes always have happy endings such as Marge embraces Homer because she is touched by his shame.

       The combination of satire and sentiment in The Simpsons is well reflected on an important character Marge. To some extent, Marge is an exemplary housewife who can handle all the housework excellently, just like an “idealized housewife”. But here are some things viewers never ignore: Marge’s blue hair and gravelly voice. Marge’s hair is super high, and it never changes or changes easily as long as the plot needs. Her voice is not maternal like an “idealized housewife”. These all emphasize Marge doesn’t exist in real life though she is ideal to some degree. However, the sentiment part is also obvious. Marge as a housewife sometimes feels upset to do domestic work all the time. She tries to relax or gets rid of the domestic role but always fails. For example, Marge tries to be a police officer, open a pretzel business, etc. However, she never finds a solution to truly relieve her sadness as a housewife. Marge’s frustrations with homemaking or marriage are always resolved by unconditional love for her family though she is still sad regularly. This is the sentiment part to reaffirm “family values”. From Marge, we can see a big problem of women’s roles in society. Should women always be the domestic role or they can have other choices? As the author says, “The Simpsons ultimately does not satirize the role of homemaker as much as it reifies it”, and “the writers and creators of The Simpsons, like many of us, have trouble even imagining a home without a female homemaker”.