Note: This free article is a part of my ongoing series of content in celebration of Pride Month. Pride Month is celebrated each year during the month of June in honor of those who fought for LGBTQ+ rights beginning with the Stonewall Riots in 1969.
Synopsis - Three's Company
Straight Arrow, Jack Tripper, must pretend to be gay in order to live with his beautiful roommates Janet Wood and Chrissy Snow or else his landlord Mr. Roper (later Mr. Furley) will evict him.
Commentary
Part of my morning ritual includes checking my Facebook Memories each morning. which is a feature that allows a person to see what they posted on that particular day throughout past years. It was about four years ago I posted the following status.
"To celebrate Pride Month, Logo is airing a Three's Company marathon. Let me remind you this is a show about a straight man who had to pretend to be gay in order to live with two women. Let that sink in."
This post got me to thinking, was Jack Tripper a positive male role model for gay men? My first instinct was to say no, because he was not a gay man. However, upon further reflection, it dawned on me that Jack Tripper was an inversion of the experiences of many gay men at the time. Whereas Jack was a straight man who had to pretend to be gay in order to live at home; there were still many gay men who had to pretend to be straight in order to exist in the world - and this sometimes included at home as well.
Of course, the show pandered to the lowest common denominator at times when Jack had to prove that he was gay which was done by perpetuating the stereotype that all gay men where weak, limp-wristed, and effeminate. There were also at least two instances where Jack was forced into a situation where he had to dress in drag. They were Grandma Jack and Jack on the Lam.
However, there were other times when Jack - pretending to be a gay man - displayed more traditional behavior of men at the time. Such was the case in the Season 7 Episode 16 Jack Goes the Distance when Jack stood up to a bully who was harassing his elderly landlord, Mr. Furley, and actually engaged in a boxing match with the bully and won! Jack often took it upon himself to be a big brother and protector to Janet and Chrissy such as when Chrissy was being groomed by a cult leader Chrissy and the Guru or when Janet was being sexually harassed by her dance instructor Some of that Jazz.
Also it wasn't enough that Jack had to deal with gay stereotypes but also had to confront many stereotypes associated with how straight men were expected to be and act in the 1970's and 80's. There were many times throughout the show where men and woman alike couldn't fathom a man living with two women and enjoying a platonic friendship with both of them. People often assumed that Jack, Janet, and Chrissy were what we would call a throuple today.
Instead of asking Was Jack Tripper a positive male role model for gay men, I think a better question is Was Jack Tripper a positive male role model simply for men? I think the answer is yes. Jack encompassed many positive traits in that he was handsome, intelligent, strong, passionate, protective, sensitive, and a good friend.
Although there were times when he was something of a horn dog - like many men from his time - on the whole I think he really respected women. I also think that his experiences in having to pretend to be gay helped him become a better person. Finally, I cannot remember one instance where Jack was in a situation where he had to pretend to be gay or someone else (not knowing the truth) made a remark about him being gay in which he reacted with shame or embarrassment. I think that says a lot about his character.
- Carolina Dean
Links
- The Kids in 201
- Three's Company (Wikipedia)
- Three's Company (IMDB)
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