In the 1970s television landscape filled with obvious sex and youth, Norman Lear understood the appeal of older everyday women.
Mr. Lear, who passed away at 101, has often been credited for shining a spotlight on racism, class issues, war, poverty, and feminist issues such as equal pay and abortion. But what’s often overlooked is the quiet feminism displayed through his choice of leading ladies and the characters they portrayed.
Mr. Lear made stars out of talented midlife actresses without requiring them to look younger than they were. Instead, he made these women the focal points of important conversations, granting them dignity, gravitas, and humor.
Amid the 1970s television landscape, Mr. Lear’s leading ladies stood out for their everyday-ness among the sexy pinups and gorgeous heroines of the era.
Edith Bunker, Maude Findlay, Louise Jefferson, and Florida Evans were all middle-class or working-class middle-aged women. Over the years, the actresses who played these roles ranged in age from their 40s to late sixties. They wore regular clothes on their regular bodies and had unobtrusive hair and makeup. Yet within these parameters lay real power, as they had a different and more enduring appeal compared to other glamorous heroines of the era.
Mr. Lear’s characters held our attention, making us care about their struggles, joys, marriages, children, and money or work woes. They made us laugh and also had romantic lives. Even the demure Edith Bunker and Florida Evans, both depicted as having vital, erotic relationships despite being over 40.
Mr. Lear’s heroines also confronted feminine reproductive issues, showcasing the complex, flawed, and sexual entities that female bodies actually are.