mind and muse

Currently writing this while on my third rewatch of the very progressive season 2 of Sex and the City. Miranda and Steve just met, Carrie and Big are back together, and I feel the awe I felt as the first two times.

Recently on a Saturday night I took a Buzz Feed quiz out of boredom, “what Sex and the City character are you?”. It took me no more than 5 minutes, but my result is what made me inspired to write this post. I was officially classified as a “total Charlotte”, with a few “Carrie-like tendencies”. Although I fully agreed with that result, I couldn’t help but see myself a little bit in every character. Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte. Seeing parts of myself in every one of them is what makes it a visionary, trend-setting series, therefore in my opinion, leaving a lasting impact. As someone who also sees herself as a self-sufficient girl, seeing 4 woman in a male-centered setting who are still incredibly independent is a very special thing. Which lead me to my next thought…

Each of these woman are so ambitious and successful in every form, despite men. So, was the consumerism presented through identity? Empowerment? Or both?

Was Sex and the City a turning point in modern womanhood?

Here’s what I think, I think their connection to each other as friends is what made the production remarkable, leading my answer to yes. It is the one and only show I see that was a true influence on woman in society, and also stood the test of time. I believe both their empowerment AND identity as successful woman is what made it groundbreaking. Though the series primarily revolves around men, love, and dating, anyone with eyes can see the commitment to each other they have as friends for 6 seasons is something every girl dreams of having. And to get personal, lucky for me, I believe i’ve already found an extremely endearing connection with my group of girlfriends, which leaves certain scenes feeling relatable. So in that case, I feel that the “turning point” comes from a place of sisterhood and platonic connection. The friendship dynamic is what makes the show a winner for me, not necessarily the “sex” part, even though that’s incredibly entertaining as well.

Sex and the City is also prime example of balance. Even though it is fictional, it’s still reasonable and possible. We see 4 women in their mid-late 30s, who have their successes and their struggles. They show just how young we really are, Samantha is the oldest and she’s still figuring it all out, and we as an audience see all of it. So this also makes me wonder, have we as a society lost the importance of balance? I fear in some circumstances we prioritize too much of just one area of our lives…at least I know I do.

With all of this being said from my point of view, I truly do believe Sex and the City defined what is know modern womanhood for so many girls, and if you haven’t invested into this series, please do. I didn’t want this post to become a pitch on “why you should watch Sex and the City” but, I love it so much that i’m ok with it being like that. Carrie’s clever tendencies, Samantha’s honesty and realness, Miranda’s steadfastness, and Charlotte’s optimism and endearing soul. All redeeming and rewarding qualities that I think are incredibly influential on all levels. To some extent, I almost see Sex and the City as the TV MA version of American Girl dolls. Every girl/character brings out parts of you that you didn’t know were there. I see myself just as much in Charlotte, as I did back when I played with Sage. Careers, dreams, aspirations, kindness, etc.

At the end of the day, no series can change the challenging world of womanhood overnight—but it did make space for something new. Empowerment, and discovering identity. It showed women being messy, ambitious, insecure, confident, and everything in between. And for a lot of people including myself, that matters. It feels honest in a way that sticks. And even now, you can still see its influence in the way women’s stories are told today.”