Everybody Loves Raymond is one of the American television sitcoms starring Patricia Heaton, Ray Romano, Brad Garrett, as well as Peter Boyle. For many years, the TV series was among the most watched television shows. The marriage between Debra Barone and Ray Romano portray various behaviors, characters and roles of husbands and wives in the family. It is worth noting that American viewers have various expectations of spouses, especially in relation to the TV series Everybody Loves Raymond (“Everybody Loves Raymond (TV Series 1996–2005)). The television series is constituted of a nuclear family, whereby the entire family is centered on the husband. The title of the series demonstrates the centrality of male. The wives and husbands are portrayed based in traditional marriage beliefs. The conservatism ways portray wives and husbands with masculinity and femininity respectively. Husbands are portrayed as the dominant individuals in the family. In fact, the husbands get the best jokes and take control of actions and language.
Everybody Loves Raymond portray husbands as the breadwinners. Husbands are always depicted to be working and are employed in the all shows. On the other hand, the women are stay-at-home wife and works on inconsequential jobs. The husbands in the TV show Everybody Loves Raymond are portrayed to be boys who get married and never let go their mothers (Rutter 36). They turn to be a nag in marriage even after getting married to beautiful women. Raymond complains of not being allowed to play golf. On debatable issues and arguments husbands tend to side with either their wife or mother. Husbands are portrayed as an individual who easily gives in to their mothers in various situations.
In addition, Everybody Loves Raymond portrays husbands as the father figure and ideal husbands. For example, Ray Romano seems to be an ideal husband and a father figure. The husbands are hard-working and always focus on achieving semblance of serenity at home. Debra Barone is portrayed in the series as an aggressive, funny wife (Romano & Phil 27). Through the character of Debra Barone, wives are portrayed as strong-minded women. In fact, wives are viewed to be typical modern-day women who clean, cook and take good care of children. It is evident that wives undertake various roles within the household while husbands get employed in various jobs.
Through the depiction of Debra Barone, wives are portrayed as peace makers and imperfect with the parents of their husbands. Debra is always seen making peace and reconciling with the in-laws regardless of the situations. Wives in family have strong opinions that try to stick strongly to them, but in the long-run they give in to their husbands (McGlashan, "Everybody Loves Raymonds."). Everybody Loves Raymond reinforces the various stereotypes thinking about husbands. Husbands are rendered to be childish and lazy in the family. Raymond is one of the examples of husbands with childish and lazy behaviors. On the same note, husbands are depicted to be emotionally confused and aggressive.
Female characters in the TV series are depicted to be hard-working and rational. In various episodes in the series Everybody Loves Raymond wives demonstrate their rationality through decision making and conflict resolution. Wives tend to push their husbands towards supporting the children (“Everybody Loves Raymond (TV Series 1996–2005)). Wives are depicted to be caring and take control of their children; Husbands have disinterest in children and even ignore the children in the room. The husbands are portrayed to be the center of the activities that their children undertake. In fact, husbands encourage their children to play what they preferred at the expense of children interest.
In some occasions, wives are depicted to be insulting and mean to their husbands. The husbands are poor fathers and thoughtless who inly focus on sex, food and television. In fact, husbands are depicted to be spending most of the time trying to shun responsibilities. Husbands disentangle themselves on parenting roles and responsibilities (Romano & Phil 47). Husbands are depicted to be un-trusted with their children while wives are driven by their parenting roles to work hard. In the general perspective, wives are depicted to take their household responsibilities such as cooking, cleaning, feeding, ironing, child care, as well as driving children to school. Husbands are depicted to be employees and the head to the family.
Evidently, the shows suggest various issues about American viewer’s expectations of spouses. As a matter of fact, American viewers should expect issues of conflicts among spouses. In the shows, spouses have conflicts but they forgive themselves and move in with life. Spouses have different views concerning family matters, and such differing opinions will lead to conflict In addition, American viewers should expect coarse rock-and-roll lifestyles among spouses. The spouses are always expected to be caregiver to their children, especially the issue of being the breadwinner (“Everybody Loves Raymond (TV Series 1996–2005)). Spouses differ but still come together to settle some family issues. Spouses in marriage tend to demonstrate the challenges that individuals in a marriage go through. The husbands among spouses are expected to be the breadwinners. The cooperation between spouses in the TV series Everybody Loves Raymond seems to be critical; hence, America viewers should expect ideal spouses.
Works cited
“Everybody Loves Raymond (TV Series 1996–2005) – IMDb”. IMDb, n.d. IMDB.com, Inc. March 15, 2012. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115167/>
Krieg, Sheryl. "TV Diary: Catching up with 'Everybody Loves Raymond'." News-Sentinel, The (Fort Wayne, IN) 05 Aug. 2013: Newspaper Source. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.
McGlashan, Lara. "Everybody Loves Raymonds." Joe Weider's Muscle & Fitness 63.5 (2002): 84. Health Source - Consumer Edition. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.
Romano, Ray, and Phil Rosenthal. Everybody Loves Raymond: Our Family Album. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004. Print.
Rutter, Virginia, and Pepper Schwartz. The Gender of Sexuality: Exploring Sexual Possibilities. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2012. Print.
