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"Only Boy in the Class" episode: some questions

posted 7 years ago by jack-bunny-bandit
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Was it realistic that all the girls besides Bobbie Jo would laugh at Walter? I know this was the 1960s, and gender roles were different, but it seems a stretch that the girls would laugh at him. Everyone knew his situation. He wasn't in Home Economics by choice. It was the only class he could get in based on his schedule. Obviously in 2017 it wouldn't be out of the ordinary at all for a boy to take such a course, but even in the 1960s or at any time really, I just can't see him being laughed at. Maybe good-natured teasing sure, but they were laughing in a mean way. Maybe I'm looking at it through modern lens, but again, everyone knew that Walter wasn't there by choice.

This episode would be considered sexist if it were made today. It really demonstrates the gender roles as defined by society back then. It also showed the double standard that even still exists today. I'm talking about how it was NOT okay for Walter to be in Home Economics, but it was perfectly okay for Betty Jo to be in Shop class. Betty Jo is said to have gotten A's in Shop. It was fine for her to be in Shop and also okay for her to play shortstop for the Hooterville Hawks and drive the Cannonball and lots of other "boy" things. Even Kate, a traditionalist, was perfectly okay with Betty Jo doing these things. Kate did initially draw the line on the motorbike, but then she eventually got okay with that too.

Another question. The students seem to be taking classes for what they say is their major. They were in high school. Was high school different back then? Could you actually major in something? I know that many kids did not go to college then. But, were they able to major in something when they were still in high school?

Also, I found a continuity problem. In this episode, Betty Jo seems to know how to cook. She is helping Walter learn. However, in later episodes Betty Jo is portrayed as not knowing how to cook and, in fact, cooking horrible. When Steve's parents come, she cannot cook. Here, however, she knows how.

[–] eveningstarz 7 years ago

Betty Jo did help her mom with the cooking, but more like hand me the flour, get me the eggs, etc. I think Betty Jo was able to cook a scramble egg, but not at the same level as Kate, she felt intimidated.