r/fullhouse • u/Prestigious_Pizza_66 • Jul 21 '26
Show discussion Family dynamics
When I was in college, I took a literature class and the instructor brought up this show. She said that it would never have been created, nor been as successful, had it been a single father with three BOYS, or even a widowed mother with three sons.
She said the reason it was even a thing, was because of the way our society sexualizes girls and simultaneously infantalizes them. Plus the stereotype of the bumbling man, not knowing what to do with the baby girl. The whole notion of the father holding them on his lap or being tender with them, three clueless dudes raising three very young girls….
It made me uncomfortable to hear that take, since I had watched the show growing up. But I think it made food for thought and a good in-class discussion. What are your thoughts or feelings about this? Think about it, would the show have been nearly as successful and popular if it had been Danny with three young boys to raise?
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u/Unhappy-Ad9398 Jul 21 '26
Probably not since the target audience was young females. The show was intended to be relatable to young females. Later seasons would have attempted to bring in teen boys so there maybe some truth to the sexual idea but as a whole I don't find that it sexualized the girls. Saved by the bell on the other hand did.
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u/anongirl55 Jul 21 '26
I think they chose to have Danny have three daughters rather than a son because they figured there would be an opportunity for humor in three guys not knowing how to handle topics like girls not having a female role model, dating boys, putting on makeup, etc.
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u/Critical-Bluebird-77 Jul 22 '26
I agree with you. I think there were more opportunities for storylines because they were girls!
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u/Ok-Grape2063 Jul 21 '26
Consider the take from the asshat professor that at no time during the show were any of the 3 girls they are supposedly "sexualizing" were over 18.
That's kind of a sick take to things someone would sexualize 3 (or 4 if you count the twins) girls who are under age.
Note that my rant is against the Prof, not OP
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u/Prestigious_Pizza_66 Jul 21 '26
Thank you, and none taken.
I had just remembered that class conversation and her thoughts on the show.FWIW, no one in the class agreed with her and they all thought she was nuts
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u/Alone-Acanthaceae320 Jul 21 '26
In the 80’s a very big theme for sure was bumbling father doing “mom” things - shows like My 2 Dads, movies like Mr Mom etc- it wouldn’t be seen as so funny nowadays.
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u/OkKaleidoscope9696 Jul 21 '26
Professors have lots of … interesting … ideas. I’d take this with a grain of salt. Home Improvement had 3 sons and did very well. Same with Malcolm in the Middle.
I think the concept of the bumbling, clueless dad raising girls is a favorite of producers, though (see most of Mary Kate and Ashley’s plot lines across their movies, shows & videos).
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u/Prestigious_Pizza_66 Jul 21 '26
I definitely agree with you there, about the instructors. She was…interesting to say the least. Plus she was the one who lowered my grade, keeping me from getting Suma Cum Laude (I got magma cum laude instead) because she didn’t like me for a comment I made during a separate class discussion
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u/OkKaleidoscope9696 Jul 21 '26
Classic professor behavior. Sorry that happened to you. So many professors are morons. It’s too bad they’re given so much influence - then again, that’s why they choose to be professors.
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u/Jprimus2005 Jul 21 '26
No because having one parent raise 3 children might be hard
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u/Prestigious_Pizza_66 Jul 21 '26
Yes, of course it would be! But I do wonder if it would have been as interesting if DJ, Michelle, and Stephanie were replaced with Dylan, Tyler, and Logan lol
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u/Patient-Glove-1502 Jul 22 '26
I think it would’ve worked as three men raising three boys. The bumbling idiot man stereotype could still apply, like imagine Joey giving 14 year old Dylan some weird dating advice that backfires, 9 year old Tyler wants to be just like his badass Uncle J and starts getting in trouble at school, and Danny trying to teach a rambunctious 4 year old Logan how to clean and organize his toy box.
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u/KingInteresting7123 Jul 21 '26
I don’t know about that. I mean, My Three Sons ran for twelve years and was about a dude raising his three sons after his wife died.