Men Are Born to Be Wise Like Jack Pearson, Not Stupid Like Homer Simpson

We’ve already had our good laughs at the inept dad joke. Now it’s time to stop.

Image by the author, made in collaboration with DALL·E 3

Hommer Simpson, Fred Flintstone, Daddy Pig. What do they have in common?

Yes, they’re incompetent, undisciplined, and constantly corrected by their smart wives who, incredibly, don’t divorce such morons.

Funny? Of course.

Should we worry about it? Yes, because what started as a joke has now become an insult to us, fathers.

Time to stop this.

This silly dad stereotype is so widespread I had a hard time finding a counter-example

But I found one: Jack Pearson in “This Is Us”.

Jack is wise and dependable, strong and caring. Oh, he’s playful too. It is a pity such a good role model has become so rare nowadays.

So, if you haven’t seen “This Is Us” yet, you’re missing something.

The insult goes beyond fatherhood — it affects masculinity as a whole

Even male characters who are not fathers are depicted now as silly, whereas the rational, centered roles are mostly taken by females.

I recently saw all the Star Wars movies with my eight-year-old daughter. The stark difference between the movies from the 80s and the more recent ones is evident. Just compare Luke with Finn. Luke is brave and smart while Finn, well, Finn is funny.

And, if you live in this galaxy, you probably know that, in the newest trilogy, brave and smart is Rey, the female protagonist.

To be clear: I have nothing against strong women — on the contrary — but why do they have to always be paired with men who are funny at best? Look at Anna and Kristoff, from Frozen, or at Fiona and Shrek, just to give two examples.

It’s on us to impart a genuine masculine image in society

We shouldn’t underestimate the media’s power. And, since there is no sign we are reverting anytime soon to the old days of “Father Knows Best”, we must do our part.

Wisdom, courage, discipline, strength, and rationality are hallmarks of masculinity that we men must champion.

For the good of our children and families, it’s time we reclaim our birthright.