Soap Operas ...

This is a slang term, originated from being sponsered by soap detergents (soap) and the fact that the style of acting is over the top (operas). As they are shown during the day, the main target audience was housewifes; this is why they were sponsered by soap detergents - something that appealled to them, in the 1950s. This put women back in their place as housewives after the war; as whilst the men were at war, women took on all of the jobs that the men had. Sitcoms also had the same idea of 'active' men and housewives.