12 Socially Significant TV Shows That Shaped the Seventies
How 1970s Television Tackled Race, Gender, and Changing Cultural Norms
The 1970s was the decade that changed the television landscape forever as the viewers were not only entertained but rather educated and intermediated on cultural issues. This particular generation of television which the 1970s cabinet when sociocultural issues from racism to boundaries of gender mattered, opportunities and challenges of political apathy, and transformations of the horizontal generational structure. Below is a list of twelve TV shows from the 1970s. This list is as relevant today as it was decades ago.
1. All in the Family (1971–1979)
Key Social Themes: Racism, gender roles, generational conflict, liberal vs. conservative values
The American sitcom “All in the Family” can be said to have helped shape the very essence of theater itself. It featured the story of a working-class conservative family headed by its bigot member Archie Bunker. Therewith, race, feminism and class struggles fueled embarrassing but blunt arguments. The slanted and often intolerant views of his sister’s husband towards America were at odds with her more liberal views and those of her husband. The arguments were eerily familiar to the turbulence taking place in society at that time.
2. MAS*H (1972–1983)
Key Social Themes: War, political critique, mental health
The action of the film “MAS*H” occurs during the Korean War, but it is declared satire and sane crudeness in the embodiment of absurd black humor. Comic in name only, it also didn’t shy away from depicting such aspects of war as the perspective of the hawks and health care personnel. Still, this is a picture that makes one feel the loss of that idealistic image based on the Vietnam conflict which was still blistering when this picture first hit the TV screens.
3. The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977)
Key Social Themes: Feminism, women in the workforce, gender equality
Popular as the first television show featuring an independent career woman in a patriarchal society, ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ made a revolutionary move in showcasing a single career woman. The character Mary Richards played by Mary Tyler Moore was quite pragmatic, articulate and self-assured even as she faced the odds of being a woman in paid employment, especially during the era when feminism was just commencing, tackling such subjects head-on. This was one of the earliest shows to portray a strong woman free of the perception that she was dependent either on a husband or on children.
4. Good Times (1974–1979)
Key Social Themes: Poverty, race, family resilience
“Good Times” was also one of the first sitcoms based on a Black family and dealt with problems such as poverty, racism, and classism. The series was based in a Chicago high rise housing and even though it injected humor into serious issues, it did address inner city problems in all their facades. It also underscored family, community, and determination.
5. The Jeffersons (1975–1985)
Key Social Themes: Race relations, upward mobility, class differences
More a spin-off than a sequel, ‘The Jeffersons’ was about a Black couple, George and Louise Jefferson who moved from a low-income neighborhood to a luxurious apartment in the Manhattan area of New York. It explored the issues of social ascension, ethnicity and social status. The businessman’s aspects of George’s character clashed with ongoing racial discrimination exemplified in the American ethos, thus tackling major contradictions of the American dream.
6. Roots (1977)
Roots (1977 miniseries)
Key Social Themes: Slavery, race relations, African-American identity
“Roots” was an extremely acclaimed miniseries which depicted the history of the lives of the black people in America depicting a family from the African origin of slavery. It was rather the first of the popular television series that showcased slave trade and slavery and the repercussions slavery has had, on a few generations. Controversies whose effects were great as there were many issues that were raised, about race relations, history, and slavery in America.
7. Sanford and Son (1972–1977)
Key Social Themes: Intergenerational conflict, race, economic struggles
“Sanford and Son” was yet another television comedy series showing mostly blacks. It chronicled the sometimes explosive relationship between a cantankerous junk dealer -his son Lamont’s father, Fred Sanford, and Lamont himself. As well as the children being entertained, it also presented the essence of issues such as poverty, generation gap and race relations that would appeal to all.
8. One Day at a Time (1975–1984)
Key Social Themes: Single parenthood, women’s liberation, generational conflict
The series focused on a recently divorced woman struggling to raise two children, depicting the real image of a single parent and the complexity of managing work-life and self-identity simultaneously. Naturally, as the nation experienced an increase in the number of divorces, the soap opera incorporated the view of how American households have evolved, especially the rise of women’s liberation.
9. Maude (1972–1978)
Key Social Themes: Feminism, abortion, mental health
“Maud” was created as a follow up of “All in the Family” marrying episodes from the present era, when women were supposed to remain submissively subservient. Bea Arthur played the character Maude Findlay, who was opinionated and liberal and a true woman. She was best known for tackling issues which were considered to be taboo then, especially the episode where Maud had an abortion; this was in 1972 and a year before Roe v. Wade. Stereotyping was also addressed as well as the taboo of undergoing menopause, mental issues and the representation of women in society.
10. Welcome Back, Kotter (1975–1979)
Key Social Themes: Education, diversity, urban life
As a sitcom, “Welcome Back, Kotter” revolves around the academic situations wherein a high school teacher comes back to the former school and takes new students known as the ‘Sweathogs’, who are retarded yet captivating. It dwelt on themes like social injustice, poverty, urban schools’ student problems and education. The educational environment struggles depicted, through the comedic slant and earnest worry over the characters’ lives, brought up more realistic issues regarding education.
11. Chico and the Man (1974–1978)
Key Social Themes: Immigration, race relations, class divisions
“Chico and the Man” rests practically on the strains of relationships in Lola, a constant prima and helpmate. Ed is a cantankerous garage owner with a failing business while Chico is a young Mexican American hired by Ed. The station cuts across subjects like legal residence, discrimination and the older white Americans and the youthful Latino demographic culture gap that seeks to sample cross-cultural appreciation to bronx.
12. The Bob Newhart Show (1972–1978)
Key Social Themes: Mental health, urban life
In as much as it is mostly a comedy program, “The Bob Newhart Show” was remarkable for its treatment of mental illness. One of its central characters, Bob Hartley, was a psychotherapist, and as typically sex crazed, he had many neurotic patients — which shows touches on mental health topics lightly. In the 1970s, there was some light growing awareness of mental health and the show helped in doing so by showing therapy, however comical, in a good way.
The 1970s was a period of massive social change, and television was not merely a spectator of such change but played a major role in it. Depictions of social issues in drama series have always complimented social change. Series like All in the Family carried issues of racism, MAS*H — the war, Sanford and Son — economic disparity. These were not mere dramas but commentaries on society helping to reflect the major problems in society and appealing to the audience to address the issues presented, these shows do not just enlighten people and make them take a stand on issues.
