This being the opening weekend for Sex and the City 2, it seems like a perfect time for this video of sociologist Tracy Scott, from Emory University, discussing the cultural impact and contradictions of the SATC franchise. Enjoy!
Thanks to Nicole J. for sending it in!
Comments 27
Ann — May 27, 2010
Sex in City is proof that there are no people of color in New York City. It's just another show that reaffirms white womanhood.
Jess — May 27, 2010
As a New Yorker, I have seen how Sex in The City CHANGED my city, by making it appear an attractive place for young single white women with a consumerist bent to move to, before it really was. When the show first aired, there was no place in Brooklyn to have a Cosmo. But the girls came looking, and the Cosmos and lap dogs followed. I call it the Sex-and-the Cityfication on New York. Yuk.
Carrie.uk — May 27, 2010
Great video. I'd always felt it was a little 'off' when people talked about sex and the city as empowering, mainly because of the shopping and romance-obsessed woman sterotypes. And the point about how these women are actually not like many women at all (white, middle-upper class, rich, thin, attractive by conventional standards) was a very good one (but something I hadn't thought of before..)
Also, I've got to say I can't stand Desperate Housewives, but I always liked Lynette. The story about her going back to work and her husband being a stay at home dad - that was an important story a womans liberation perspecive, in my opinion. The more stories we have about this typical-role reversal, and positive media about it, might help it become more 'acceptable'.
Concerned — May 27, 2010
That show gives women a bad name. Be it men or women, being a slut should never be something one aspires to. And insofar as the consumerism is concerned, we need more shows that tell us we don't need $3,000 shoes. To even play on the idea that this show empowers women is to pidgin whole women everywhere.
Gen — May 27, 2010
She picked up on why SitC makes me mildly uncomfortable. While the idea women can have as much (honest, responsible) sex as they wish is one I completely agree with... when it's presented in a fantasy setting like SatC so clearly is, as escapism, how much does it actually promote it as doable and not a nice dream?
Interesting video. Thanks for posting!
Barbara — May 27, 2010
À propos, check this great article by Tanya Gold - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/7746119/Sorry-sisters-but-I-hate-Sex-and-the-City.html
Thanks for sharing!
Luis Roberto — May 27, 2010
I don't agree with this at all. The great thing, I believe, about the show is that these women are able to express their sex life and decide with whom they want to sleep with and not care about what anybody thinks. They live and enjoy their sex life freely. Of course throughout the show it became about finding Mr. Right and romance because no matter how independent we are, regardless of how much anyone would want to deny, there's this basic human need to have companionship and these woman want that. Also, the first episode of season four titled "the agony and the ex-tacy" it's so important because they make the "pact" that Samantha mentions on the trailer of the second movie and that's about them being their soulmates and men just being "these fun great guys to have fun with."
Scott says that the show glamorizes the reality of women working and that's false. I question if has she ever seen the complete series. These women struggled to get where they are. Miranda got the attention of her boss when she went to a baseball game and met another woman through a blind date and he invited Miranda to dinner because his wife wanted a lesbian couple in their group. Miranda also had to negotiate with her boss because she was working too much and her son missed her. She took care financially of Steve and her kid and that was shown on the show. Samantha ran a successful company on her own thanks to representing stars such as Lucy Lui and then Smith Jerrod, whom she created. Charlotte came from a family of money and yet she worked and struggled to get back to work after she slip with Trey because she had too much experience. Even Carrie struggled financially throughout the entire course of the show. She basically "made it big" after the season ended with the release of her other two books. Her first one was only a success in France.
They had struggles in their sex life, love life, professional life, family life, etc. This movie is 10 years after the show started. They're all now successful women enjoying what they've achieved.
SR — May 27, 2010
This is such bullshit.
Let's be clear about three things:
#1 - Sex and the City is NOT portraying sexually "liberated" women
#2 - Sex and the City DOES have an "effect" on society/culture (if even by just supporting the status quo).
#3 - Sexual liberation is absolutely NOT about reverse-objectification, weighing 90 pounds, being able to wear skimpy expensive clothes, and "have sex with whoever you want"...
...Liberation implies freedom from domination, not merely the ability to replicate it.
This sociologist has no idea what she's talking about. Shows like Sex and the City and Desperate Housewives are incredibly problematic.
PattiLain — May 28, 2010
Have any of you read the SATC review by Lindy West?
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/burkas-and-birkins/Content?oid=4132715
Ella — May 30, 2010
Thank you, SR! How is "acting like men" sexual liberation? Isn't that sexist in itself?
And I'm sorry... Desperate Housewives is realistic???
Sex and the City II: (Privileged) Women’s Voices « of Heart and Mind — May 31, 2010
[...] That is all a given. So if you’re looking for that in a post, look elsewhere – there’s plenty on that. Or talk to me. Just don’t critique me for my hypocrisy. [...]