Sex and the City and the Single American Girl Essay Example

innocent character.

Although it's not explicitly stated, there's a sense that the art dealer comes from an affluent background and that her occupation fills her time. She's a WASP who embraces Judaism to impress a man and her social views are fairly conservative, although in a harmless way. However, she becomes involved with a group of lesbian artists at one point, showcasing the contrasts between her traditional and romantic views on womanhood and the post-modern world. Despite being regal, she navigates through society attempting to maintain her status by marrying suitably. Samantha Jones (played by Kim Catrall) is a sexually liberated blonde bombshell who rejects societal norms for womanhood. She embraces her sexuality without the restrictions of being a “good girl”.

Despite critiques of how the show portrays modern American womanhood, the single life, or New York City itself, it has made a big impact, especially on the women who have watched it, and has had a long life in re-runs even after the end of the show. The character finds power through sexual empowerment and engages in many explicitly depicted affairs with men. She is characterized as the least cynical, happiest, and most adventurous of her circle of friends. From usual sex acts to fetishes, she tries out everything and appears to be Carrie’s closest friend. Their friendship seems to involve a special intimacy.

Sex and the City portrays its female characters as the tangible outcomes of the feminist movement. Despite having abundant choices, freedom, jobs, friends, relationships, and living in the city, these women are discontent. However, they lack families, and their dissatisfaction implies that sacrificing personal relationships with men, for work and career, isn't

enough to satisfy today's post-feminist woman.

Collectively, the stories in the show present a moral that women relinquished a crucial aspect of their happiness by adopting feminist ideals of autonomy, professional pursuits, sexual freedom, and choice. This is exemplified by Carrie's ending up with "Mr. Big", despite his poor treatment of her, because he is portrayed as the epitome of a romantic hero. Additionally, Miranda, who is the most assertive about feminism and critical of men, ultimately discovers fulfillment in motherhood, which she had resisted and stumbled upon accidentally. Some criticize the program from the same point of view for having a narrow representation of women concerning class and race/ethnicity issues, suggesting that it is at most elitist.

All of the women on the show are white with affluent backgrounds and impressive fashion sense, except for their questionable taste in men. Although the writers attempt to tackle social and political issues, their overly lavish lifestyles are far from realistic. Despite living in New York City, where minimalism is often necessary for writers like Carrie due to the high cost of living, their living situations are excessively extravagant. Carrie's obsession with expensive shoes and feminine clothing is unrealistic for most single women. Ultimately, the show's lack of realism is intentional and serves a purpose.

Despite finding the treatment offensive, even fervent feminists may still delight in the show because the characters have a knack for captivation. Although valid criticisms exist, fans still relish the show due to its superior execution. Its writing is clever and humorous, and it presents a desirable world. Furthermore, its success extends globally to women beyond the United States.

Many women identified with the characters

on Sex and the City and adopted their portrayal of American womanhood. Some aspired to imitate Carrie and her group while the diversity among the characters made the show appealing to a wide audience without causing offense, except for the explicit sex scenes. However, it was these soft pornographic scenes that led to the show being popular among women who come from a society that increasingly accepts sexual content and pornography. Sex and the City is recognized as one of the boldest TV shows to air contributing significantly to normalizing sexual themes on TV.

Upon its release, the content of Cosmopolitan magazine's sexual nature was not the only stand-out factor, but instead its explicitness about female perspectives on sexuality and an emphasis on penile features and size. The episode titled "Old Dogs, New Dicks" stands out as it features Charlotte's discomfort with an uncircumcised penis.

During the show, there are several instances where the size of a man's penis is discussed, both in a joking manner over breakfast and with admiration. One episode centers around Samantha's relationship with a man known for his skills in performing oral sex on women. The show's level of explicitness is high and includes these types of discussions.

It can be argued that Sex and the City taps into a collective yearning for a bygone era of femininity, as well as the desire to reclaim and empower women's sexuality and friendships in a postmodern society. However, despite the show's focus on female camaraderie, its underlying message suggests that such bonds may ultimately be insufficient. The fact that the show, touted as feminist or post-feminist, was celebrated as a feminist icon through its portrayal

of Carrie Bradshaw highlights the ongoing struggle towards gender equality.