History Main / ChubbyMamaSkinnyPapa

This trope can be implemented for a variety of different reasons. In some cases, it could be to allow the wife to have a more [[MyBelovedSmother imposing]] [[ApronMatron presence]], while making her husband appear [[HenpeckedHusband more demure and submissive]] in comparison. By the same token, an artist may purposely draw the wife with soft, rounded features in order to convey warmth and hospitality, rather than dominance (the husband, by contrast, will have [[MasculineLinesFeminineCurves sharper, more angular features]]). Note that the couples who fit this trope do not necessarily have to be parents, but the wives and husbands who do will typically have traditional maternal and paternal traits, respectively.

* Lady Sybil Vimes from ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' is described as being much larger than her husband, Sam. While the other characters tend to be intimidated by her imposing presence, the book describes her as kind hearted and compassionate. She also abides by most traditional maternal roles, though she does so out of duty and obligation, rather than necessity.

* ''Film/{{Norbit}}'' provides a rather extreme example, though the difference in girth between the titular protagonist and his wife, Rasputia, is mostly PlayedForLaughs.

* The Wormwoods are this in the ''book'' version of Roald Dahl's ''Literature/Matilda''. Reversed in the movie: they're played by Danny [=DeVito=] (Mr.) and Rhea Perlman (Mrs.)

* The Wormwoods are this in the ''book'' version of Roald Dahl's ''[[Literature/Matilda]]''. Reversed in the movie: they're played by Danny [=DeVito=] (Mr.) and Rhea Perlman (Mrs.)

* Muriel and Eustace from ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'' fall into this. In this case, the contrast is definitely used to convey softness and roughness, respectively; the plump- figured Muriel is defined by her warmth and motherly instinct, while the stick- like Eustace is a hot tempered curmudgeon who only smiles when he wants to laugh at someone else's pain. Considering the way [[AbusiveParents Eustace's mother]] treated him, his behavior isn't all that surprising.

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' provides a rare example of this trope being invoked and by a young couple. When Lord Roose Bolton was given his pick of women to marry from the House Frey, he was offered his bride's weight in silver for her dowry. Upon hearing this, Roose purposely chose Walda, the fattest one.

* Muriel and Eustace from ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'' fall into this. In this case, the contrast is definitely used to convey softness and roughness, respectively; the plump- figured Muriel is defined by her warmth and motherly instinct, while the stick- like Eustace is a hot tempered curmudgeon who only smiles when he wants to laugh at someone else's pain.

* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'' Molly was frequently described as a short, plump, kindly-looking woman, whom Harry was shocked to see that she could so easily look "like a sabre-tooth tiger" when she was angry with her sons. She was also described as "porky," by Draco Malfoy, in the course of his typical taunts about the Weasley family, and "dumpy" by Vernon Dursley, despite the fact that he and his son were much larger than the slightly plump Molly. Her husband Arthur Weasley possessed the tall, thin build inherited by his sons Ron and Bill. Arthur was less strict than his wife, and his children thought he was funny.

* Old Man Nebbercracker, who lives in the MonsterHouse, is lean and wrinkly, befitting a man his age. His wife, Constance, however, was so corpulent that she used to be kept in a cage on display as a circus freak.The ongoing torment and ridicule by the circus patrons has made Constance viciously antisocial. Nebbercracker's cantankerousness is his way of shielding the neighborhood children from his wife's murderous malevolence.

* TheMasterOfDisguise has Pistachio's parents, Fabbrizio and [[MeaningfulName Mama Canoli]]. In this case, Mama Canoli's girth is used to convey motherly love, particularly a fixation with feeding her son. In fact, just before she gets kidnapped, we see her making a canoli for Pistachio.

* {{Norbit}} provides a rather extreme example, though the difference in girth between the titular protagonist and his wife, Rasputia, is mostly PlayedForLaughs.

* Lady Sybil Vimes from {{Discworld}} is described as being much larger than her husband, Sam. While the other characters tend to be intimidated by her imposing presence, the book describes her as kind hearted and compassionate. She also abides by most traditional maternal roles, though she does so out of duty and obligation, rather than necessity.
* Molly was frequently described as a short, plump, kindly-looking woman, whom Literature/HarryPotter was shocked to see that she could so easily look "like a sabre-tooth tiger" when she was angry with her sons. She was also described as "porky," by Draco Malfoy, in the course of his typical taunts about the Weasley family, and "dumpy" by Vernon Dursley, despite the fact that he and his son were much larger than the slightly plump Molly. Her husband Arthur Weasley possessed the tall, thin build inherited by his sons Ron and Bill. Arthur was less strict than his wife, and his children thought he was funny.
* ASongOfIceAndFire provides a rare example of this trope being invoked. When Lord Roose Bolton was given his pick of women to marry from the House Frey, he was offered his bride's weight in silver for her dowry. Upon hearing this, Roose purposely chose Walda, the fattest one.

* The ''{{That 70s Show}}'' episode "The Crunge" had a flash-forward of Hyde and Jackie in married life, where Hyde has a bit of a beer paunch (but isn't that big relatively speaking) but former cheerleader Jackie has really let herself go and is quite a bit bigger than Hyde. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VK55-oJ6wA You Tube clip here.]]
* Dr Harold Abbot and his wife Rose from ''Series/{{Everwood}}'' visually fit the trope. Harold is tall and lanky, while Rose is chubby. However, she's also tall and in no way fat. They also have a healthy family dynamic and consider themselves HappilyMarried.

* In most productions of {{Hairspray}} (as well as in the original John Waters film), Tracy's parents, Edna and Wilbur Turnblad, are cast to fit this trope. This is partially done to visually establish a bond between Edna and Tracy. Part of the reason why Edna is initially reluctant to let Tracy audition for ''Corny Collins'' is her fear that Tracy will be ostracized because of her weight (and she, as a plus- sized woman herself, should know exactly what it's like). Wilbur, on the other hand, plays a relatively minimal role in the plot, so directors usually have no problem casting him as a smaller, more slender man.

* [[SkywardSword Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword]] has Luv and Bertie, the couple that runs the potion shop. From their dialogue, it is evident that Luv is the dominant one in the relationship, while Bertie is a shy, ineffectual HenpeckedHusband. He also seems to be primarily responsible for looking after their infant child.

* TheClevelandShow has Lester and Kendra Krinklesac. While Lester has a rather weedy physique, Kendra's years of compulsive eating have rendered her so morbidly obese that she needs a Rascal scooter to get around. Due to her debilitating obesity, Lester has to take up the responsibility of being the primary breadwinner and caretaker of the household.
* Muriel and Eustace from CourageTheCowardlyDog fall into this. In this case, the contrast is definitely used to convey softness and roughness, respectively; the plump- figured Muriel is defined by her warmth and motherly instinct, while the stick- like Eustace is a hot tempered curmudgeon who only smiles when he wants to laugh at someone else's pain.

* In SouthPark, Kyle's parents, Gerald and Sheila Broflovski, definitely qualify as this. In earlier seasons, Sheila's size was used to convey dominance and aggression (earning her the 'Big Fat Bitch' moniker), but [[CharacterizationMarchesOn as the series went on, that aspect of her character seemed to fade away]]. She's still quite protective of Kyle, but her MamaBear tendencies have been downplayed considerably. After TheMovie, the writers made a special effort to show her warmer, more affectionate side. Gerald, on the other hand, has consistently been portrayed as a bit of a JerkAss (though no more so than [[CrapsackWorld most of the other South Park residents]]).

* Molly was frequently described as a short, plump, kindly-looking woman, whom HarryPotter was shocked to see that she could so easily look "like a sabre-tooth tiger" when she was angry with her sons. She was also described as "porky," by Draco Malfoy, in the course of his typical taunts about the Weasley family, and "dumpy" by Vernon Dursley, despite the fact that he and his son were much larger than the slightly plump Molly. Her husband Arthur Weasley possessed the tall, thin build inherited by his sons Ron and Bill. Arthur was less strict than his wife, and his children thought he was funny.

* In SouthPark, Kyle's parents, Gerald and Sheila Broflovski, definitely qualify as this. In earlier seasons, Sheila's size was used to convey dominance and aggression (earning her the 'Big Fat Bitch' moniker), but [[CharacterizationMarchesOn as the series went on, that aspect of her character seemed to fade away]]. She's still quite protective of Kyle, but her MamaBear tendencies have been downplayed considerably. After TheMovie, the writers made a special effort to show her warmer, more affectionate side. Gerald, on the other hand, has consistently been portrayed as a bit of a JerkAss (though no more so than [[CrapsackWorld most of the other South Park residents]].

* MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic has the couple that runs Sugarcube Corner, Mr. and Mrs. Cake. Mrs. Cake isn't exactly ''large'', but she's considerably more pudgy than her husband. From their few appearances in the show, we can tell that both of the Cakes tend to be even tempered and sweet, but Mrs. Cake in particular is defined by her affectionate nature, addressing nearly everyone she knows as 'Dearie'.

-->-"Jack Sprat", an English nursery rhyme

-->''Jack Sprat could eat no fat, his wife could eat no lean,''
-->''And so between the two of them, they licked the platter clean.''
---> - "Jack Sprat", an English nursery rhyme