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Designing Women

(Rated TV-PG, Comedy, Starring Dixie Carter, Delta Burke, Jean Smart, Where to watch: Lifetime Television, DVD)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Sassy social commentary for teens and up.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 13 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The show deals with many controversial issues, including racism, homosexuality, AIDS, domestic violence, and sexual harassment. The discussions of these issues are often feminist in nature and focus on being socially aware and morally responsible. Strong, independent female role models (even Suzanne).
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Occasional discussions of violence against women.

  • Sex:

    Mild references to sexual behavior. Lots of dating and romance.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Occasional references to alcohol, including wine and homemade alcoholic beverages. Characters rarely smoke, but when they do, it's treated as negative behavior.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Designing Women

Parents need to know that this series takes on strong, sometimes-controversial topics (AIDS, racism, etc.) from a feminist point of view. There are also occasional non-explicit references to sexual behavior (after all, the women do have "designs"). Perhaps most significantly, this series emphasizes strong, independent female roles and discusses important social and moral issues.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the role of women in today's society. Are men and women treated equally? Should they be? Families can also talk about the many contemporary political, social, and moral issues that we're surrounded by every day. What do you think about how they're handled by institutions like the government and the media? Are people obligated to follow moral codes of conduct? Why or why not?
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