The Simpsons: Just Your Average Family?

The Simpsons television show has been showing since 1989 depicts a crazy, lovable, and somewhat dysfunctional family comparable to those ideal families on sitcoms at the time. So why in the world would anyone consider this so-called “non-traditional” family actually be the typical American family?
To begin, we take a look at the family as a whole: a father, mother, and two point five children, that is one boy, girl, and a baby. So far it sounds like the average American family. Each family member has their own stereotypical roles that they fulfill: the father brings home the money, the mother cooks and cleans, the son makes mischief, and the daughter is mature and studious.
When Americans think of the “typical American family”, they tend to idealize it. It is true that more families in America act and live, to some degree, like the Simpsons as opposed to an idealized depiction of the American family such as the Cleavers from Leave it to Beaver. The Simpsons show American families as they truly are: imperfect. It’s just a fact that there is no “perfect family”. Sure siblings will argue with one another, parents disagree, there could be times of hardship or prosperity; and that is exactly what the Simpsons are showing.
Now obviously they do not portray the exact definition of an “American family”. Most families are probably not nearly as ridiculous as they are; however, they are also cartoons, and what would be interesting about them if they didn’t get into some sort or crazy trouble. Some things are exaggerated as well in the Simpsons, like the personalities of the family members; but that is because the show is a satire on the typical American family. But in the end, the Simpsons seem to be one of the closest portrayals of an American family on televisions today.

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