TV's feckless fathers 'give dads a bad name': Programmes attacked for 'casual contempt' of men

Fathers are misrepresented as useless and lazy says a new survey

Most parents complain it amounts to 'discrimination against dads'

Feckless: The routine representation of TV fathers such as Homer Simpson bears no resemblance to real life, parents say

It's enough to shake dads out of their slumber and get them leaping out of armchairs with rage.

Fathers are routinely misrepresented as useless and lazy in TV shows, according to a survey of parents.

Children in particular are bombarded with the ‘casual contempt’ of men and the damaging stereotype continues in adult programmes - reinforcing the negative impression.

Many parents complain it amounts to form of ‘discrimination against dads’ that would cause an outcry if women were treated the same way.

Children’s programmes guilty of the peddling the unfair depiction include, according to a Netmums report, Peppa Pig, The Simpsons and The Flintstones.

The onslaught continues in adult shows such as My Family, Outnumbered and Shameless.

An overwhelming 93 per cent of mums and dads said that the way fathers appear on television, as well as books and adverts, bears no relation to their real-life contribution to family life.

Almost half complained children were surrounded by images of feckless fathers, with over a quarter attacking the ‘subtle form of discrimination’ and a fifth saying mums wouldn’t accept being portrayed the same way.

The Netmums survey - released before Father’s Day this Sunday - looked at the opinions of 1,650 mothers and 500 fathers.

More than half agreed society was becoming ‘more appreciative of how important a dad’s role is’ and that fathers are ‘much closer to their kids than in the past’.

Nine in ten dads said they felt they were working harder than their own fathers to be a good parent.

Two thirds said they were proud to work harder to support their family and a similar proportion are ‘happier and more settled’ than before they had children.

One in eight quit smoking and one in 30 overcame a drug habit after learning they were to become a father.

Comedy value: Robert Lindsay's portrayal of a father in My Family is not true to real life says new research

Useless: The negative stereotypes of fathers are particularly strong in adult programmes such as Channel 4's Shameless, pictured

Despite their efforts, a third of parents said mothers continue to be viewed as more important that dads. One in 20 even believe society sees fathers as ‘feckless, lazy or sperm donors’.

An Oven Pride advert for a cleaning product that used the phrase ‘so easy, even a man can do it’ prompted nearly 700 complaints.

Boots also produced an ad for cold and flu products using the line ‘when he’s ill and you don’t have time to be’.

A Chartered Institute of Marketing survey in 2001 found two-thirds of women believed women were portrayed in adverts as intelligent, assertive and caring, while men were shown as pathetic and silly.

Key role: Half of those surveyed said that society is becoming more appreciative of fathers' role in the family

And there was a difference of opinion between the sexes about how they viewed their efforts as parents. Nearly two-thirds of men said they were ‘hands-on and fully involved’ in parenting but only half of women agreed.

A quarter of mothers also warned the more permissive attitude to divorce was undermining fatherhood as many dads lose touch with their children following a break-up.

Netmums founder Siobhan Freegard said: ‘The types of jokes aimed at dads would be banned if they were aimed at women, ethnic minorities or religious groups. Some people claim it’s just a joke but there is nothing amusing about taking away good role models.

‘Academic studies show children with involved fathers do far better at school, have a much lower chance of getting involved in crime and have better mental health, so we should be celebrating and encouraging what dads do.’