As the matriarch of the Conner household, Roseanne spoke what was on her mind and made her own decisions - as well as the decisions of everybody else. Her humor, sarcasm, and independent choices served as a feminist symbol throughout the 1980's and 1990's. Combining this feminist power with working-class pride made Roseanne a role model to working mothers around the country. Melissa Williams, author of "I Kinda Prefer to be a Human Being," writes, “Roseanne Barr’s message was at once working class and feminist – in ways that made both the industry and the academy uncomfortable”(26). Whether it made people proud or uncomfortable, however, Roseanne's spitfire personality allowed her to stand out among other television characters.
Roseanne's feminism came at a time of family crisis throughout the 1980's and 1990's - the need for both parents to have income. This need created tension amongst families as the mother was no longer home with the children all day long. Williams writes, “Visibility of working-class feminism in the public arena was both sorely needed and badly neglected in the late 1980’s (26). With the rise of juggler families throughout the 90's, Roseanne created a place for working-class women, a place where they could pride themselves on being a mother as well as a working woman.