Topic > Representation of Stepmothers in Popular Culture - 1075

Some may believe that this positive portrayal is a changing trend, but others argue that perhaps the good stepmother did not have time in history to become evil. (Church 1994) Another exception to the evil stepmother image is when stepmothers are portrayed as the "cool mom." The “cool mom” does not act as a mother figure, this woman is more defined as a big sister than a disciplinary figure. Although she is not a stepmother, a good example of a "cool mom" is Regina George's mother in the movie Mean Girls, this mother acts like a teenager and wants to participate in her daughter's drama. Mrs. George even refers to herself as the "cool mom" and later in the film offers her daughter condoms. Another type of "cool mom" is the trophy wife who is usually portrayed as young, beautiful, and ditzy. This trophy wife is usually a stepmother and is sometimes referred to as a "child bride" or the father is told that he "robbed the cradle" because there is usually a large age difference. An example of this stepmother is Kate from the TV show Trophy Wife. The series follows Kate's new life as a stepmother and how she must deal with not one but two birth mothers of her three stepchildren. Kate follows the stereotype of the sappy young new wife trying to juggle motherhood. Strapagiel asks the question about the types of “cool moms,” even if this type of mother is