I confess, I've watched the show an embarrassing number of times.
It's rather disheartening to watch, to tell the truth. An unwed mother comes on the show and says, "I'm 100% sure that he's the father, Maury." The man badmouths the woman . Maury reads the results and then some sort of spectacle ensues. What's most appalling to me is that Maury is able to find enough people in this circumstance to have a show like this 4 out of 5 weekdays. So what's going on? Has the show exaggerated the prevalence of family breakdown? Or does the Maury show reflect reality?
If the show is inflating the prevalence of this phenomenon, then perhaps we have some important questions to ask.
1. How much social responsibility do talk shows have?
2. How do repetitious images of family breakdown inhibit or promote family progress?
3. Why are we, as human social beings, gratified by these stories?
If the show reflects reality, then that brings a whole other set of questions.
1. How are we redefining "family" in our society at present?
2. What does it mean to be progressive when it comes to family issues? Challenging whatever is normative or drawing broader boundaries to include more situations as normative?
Sociologically speaking, we know that external forces and the family environment have a great effect on an individual's behavior and the probability of that individual experiencing certain unfavorable life circumstances. How can we cultivate and promote family structures that are most likely to yield favorable life circumstances for the child? Does the Maury show illuminate our need to address the issues of monogamy, responsible sex, fatherhood, and the like? Or is it just melodramatic, socially irrelevant entertainment?
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And another question: Why do we enjoy seeing bad relationships or situations on television? Maury seems to me like a Jerry Springer (without the body guards) where the whole show revolves around "Something bad happened, let's see how to resolve it or possibly make it worse".
Okay, it's a lame perspective on my part to say that because I can't even remember the last time I've seen Maury. I have seen Dr. Phil a couple of times and I do enjoy the show for the most part.
Not such a lame perspective. Pretty apt, actually. It's all "Who's your daddy?" all the time.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
Ok.... I have to ask... if straight men are all, "Who's your daddy?"... then can gay women get away with, "Who's your mommy?"
Sorry... I just couldn't resist... : )
I believe that we enjoy viewing bad relationships on the Maury Show and on other talk shows just for the fact that it's entertaining to us. I don't know about you but I watch shows that can entertain me.
I think that the show could go one of two ways, and chooses the latter. The former would be to pinpoint both cheating, promiscous lovers and people who are faithful to each other and show comparative relationships to encourgae monogamy in the future. However, the show chooses to exploit the situation for base entertainment that, to a certain extent, rivals the Romans and their lions.
It's an interesting thing to think about
Maybe you should have a talk show. That's actually a really great idea.
Well I feel like we have been supporting his habits if we stopped watching his show he wouldn't be able to have one. nad another thing I know woman want to know the father of there children however all of the acting out on television downgrades woman as a whole if you know then know that you know if not then say you are not sure and be a woman about the situation. You made a mistake own up to it but showing out is not helping the situation its just boosting maury's ratings
You're right! If we stopped watching, then he would have to come up with something else for his shows. And I also agree with what you said about the way women act on the show. I wish they knew they were disgracing themselves. I wonder what they think when they watch themselves on TV. Really, your comment brings up a good question. How are we using the power that we have as viewers to reject, accept, or influence media?
Side note: Thanks for everyone for joining in on this discussion. I love reading all your thoughts. Check out my other posts as well and feel free to chime in!
I surmise that the Maury Povich show is a sort of sociological experiment that follows the 6 steps of grief that baby-mamas go through whilst searching for their baby's father. It is rather sad that none of those women have the sense (or good judgement) to head down to Planned Parenthood and procure free birth control. Then again, if you have good judgement then you will likely not end up on Maury. Unless it's the "Jack Hanna's Animal Friends" episodes, where you can coo at the baby ocelots.
~Violinstef
If Maury gives us only one benefit with his programming topics, it's that he shows us a little truth behind the situations of these ladies. Be careful that you don't assume that they didn't see Planned Parenthood. The only one hundred percent effective way to prevent childbirth is abstinence. Plenty of women get pregnant on birth control.