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  • Essay / Portrayal of mothers-in-law in popular culture - 1075

    Some may believe that this positive portrayal is a changing trend, but others argue that perhaps the good mother-in-law did not have time in the story of becoming bad. (Church 1994) Another exception to the perverse image of the mother-in-law is when mothers-in-law are described as the "cool mom." The “cool mom” does not act as a maternal figure, this woman defines herself more as a big sister than as a disciplinary figure. Although she is not a stepmother, a good example of a "cool mom" is Regina George's mother in the movie Mean Girls, this mother behaves like a teenager and wants to participate in her daughter's drama. Mrs. George even calls herself a "cool mom" and later in the film she gives her daughter condoms. Another type of "cool mom" is the trophy wife who is usually described as young, beautiful and petite. This trophy wife is usually a stepmother and is sometimes called a "child bride" or the father is told he "robbed the cradle" as there is usually a large age gap. An example of this mother-in-law is Kate from the TV show Trophy Wife. The series follows Kate's new life as a stepmother and how she must deal with not one but two biological mothers of her three stepchildren. Kate follows the stereotype of the young new wife trying to juggle motherhood. Strapagiel asks the question of what types of “cool moms” are, is this type of mother even