To think mums on CBeebies are unrealistic and men are softies

[busybarbara]

Why are mums on CBeebies shows so perfect and the dads are softie oddball wusses? In Topsy and Tim, Waffle Dog, and Wooly and Tig the mums are so perfect and attractive and the men are doofuses who would never have a chance with them in the real world! Actually true of the presenters are well, the men are a bit meh whereas the women are very pretty.

When I was growing up the men on childrens TV were much more "manly" think things like Geoff in Byker Grove, Pat Sharp on Fun House, Mike & Angelo, Tony Hart, Inspect Gadget, or Bananaman. Have men just become soft nowadays?

There's a difference between CBeebies and CBBC (or the ITV equivalent). The shows you mention first are all aimed at very young children. The shows you mention second are aimed at much older children and teens, and therefore have different characters and presenters. They're on different channels now, though wouldn't have been back in the day.

OK but are we saying as a society that the youngest children can't deal with masculinity?

Well - apparently not. There is a post on the thread about children seeing naked fathers that implies that the penis is a weapon of aggression and children should not be exposed to it.

Pat Sharp on Fun House yes, he just oozes manliness

It's just a world view. For younger kids TV; everyone is "softer" - because everyone should be treating them softly; it's understandable to them. Then as they get older, that world view changes, and the "softness" fades.

The prettiness of the women is subjective.

I was coming on to say whatbreak said

😂 at that picture of Pat Sharp. Also Tony Heart 4eva but manly isn't the first word that springs to mind.

Andy's Dinosaur Adventures - where he goes out hunting for dinosaurs - seems quite macho to me - for small children.
Hey Duggee - competent and able to do everything.
Octonauts - still got big male boss in charge of everything.
Art Ninja is the equivalent of Tony Hart.
Dumping Ground is the equivalent of Byker Grove.
Absolute Genius? Dennis the Menace? Operation Ouch? Millie InBetween?
Surely programmes designed for small children have always had quite gentle presenters, anyway - think of Playschool, etc.

"More manly" when you were growing up, and Pat Sharp in fun house is your example?