Throughout the semester, prompts based on class readings, screenings, lectures, and discussions will be posted on this blog. Responses will be graded on their level of critical thinking, pertinence, engagement with class texts, and grammar/spelling/proofing/
length. Be sure to read the prompt carefully and fully engage with the content of the class materials. At the bottom of your response, type your FIRST NAME and the FIRST INITIAL OF YOUR LAST NAME (e.g. Claudia Z.).
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Week Seven: Response 7.3
What are some elements Astrid Henry reads as
progressive in Sex and the City, and what areas need
further consideration?
Astrid Henry in her article "Orgasms and Empowerment" analyzes the dynamics of the show sex and the city which tells the story of four women living in New York City and their adventures. She writes about her thoughts and feelings on the show and sees many progressive aspects towards feminism and how women are portrayed in popular culture. With the progressiveness however, she also marks many aspects that are problematic with how people are portrayed.
Henry talks about many parts that are progressive. One example is the idea of 4 women and the focus on female friendship instead competition. Breaking the stereotype that all women are out to compete with one another and shows the intricacy of female lives and relationships. All the women on the show have different viewpoints about many parts of life like careers, marriage, and abortion. This shows that women are free-willed thinkers who can express their opinions especially on subjects that are directly correlated with their bodies and happiness. The show is a comedy which breaks the stereotype that women are not funny. The show also shows some of the sexual adventures these women go through and shows that women sexuality is not something to be limited and controlled. Women should be able to make their own choices and should not be judged for the decisions that they make. Sex and the City has a huge focus on the women's individuality which directly correlates 3rd wave feminism and the idea of choice feminism.
Some problems that Henry identified with the show is that all the women are white, thin, attractive, and well-off. It does not show an accurate representation of the diversity of women and the diversity of New York. It only represents a very small portion of women who can identify with the 4 protagonists. The show also perpetuates that all women love shopping and spending money. The show does not really take any noticeable political standpoints and misses out on the ability to make some sort of difference in the media and popular culture. The last major issue with the show is how it shows gender expression beyond masculinity which allows the show to be devalued by men who are normalized to be homophobic and discredit the entire series as being a "chick" "gay" show since it is directed by a gay man. The message gets lost in being "a gay man's point of view" instead of just a person's point of view of how society is effected people.
Through Astrid Henry's analysis of Sex and the City, she reads into different aspects of the show that could be considered progressive, and some aspects that could be considered problematic. First, she notes that the show is progressive by simply having four female leads who focus on their friendship with one another rather than competition between one another. Typically in media, women are conveyed as catty and out to get one another fueled by some sort of competition. But in Sex and the City, these women experience genuine friendship with each other. Another component of progressiveness in the show is the female discourse. Each woman has a unique personality, completely different than her friends, which provides various input, advice, action and ways of thinking throughout the show. This gives the audience the opportunity to identify with one of the characters; there is a bit of something for everyone. There is also a huge aspect of female comedy in the show. Women are typically not viewed as funny, society setting a standard expressing women are unable to be comedic- compare the number of successful male comedians and successful female comedians. However, Sex and the City follows the lives of the four women, their experiences the majority of the time being funny. Lastly, Sex and the City validates the notion of choice for women. Choice in their careers, choice in female experimentation, and in their promiscuous sex lives. Although containing many progressive pieces, Henry notes that Sex and the City also holds problematic aspects. Sex and the City does have four female leads, but these leads are all white, conventionally attractive, and thin. There are no women of color in their circle, or women with realistic body types, etc, and there is no attempt to add them. Conspicuous consumption is also heavily present in the show, each woman wearing designer clothing, and shopping/socializing at trendy bars and clubs being a huge form of entertainment for the characters. Lastly, through the long lasting series, there is no political action taken by any of the characters. This seems to be a waste because of the amount of people who tuned into the show when it was live and the amount who even still tune in today.
In “Orgasms and Empowerment: Sex and the City and the third wave feminism” Henry states that Sex and the City is progressive in the sense that the four female characters offer an insight into female sexuality, relationship, and the lives of contemporary women that defies negative female stereotypes. Henry also establishes a connection between the programme of the show and third wave feminism ideas, since the show addresses different key issues and themes discussed by third-wave writers. In fact, the show focus on female laughter and humor, female sexual pleasure as a right and sexual experimentation as being healthy. Also, the dialogue between the four women revolves around the notion of choice in different aspects of life such as marriage, careers, and procreation. Although Sex and the City has key progressive elements in its portrayal of female lead characters; it neglects race and class when addressing these issues. Moreover, the show also establishes limits to masculinity, heterosexuality and gender experimentation.
Humour in the show is shared by the characters defying the stereotype that women are not funny. Also, Humour is used as a strategy for addressing what are often difficult and complicated issues, such as heartbreaks, divorce, impotence, infertility and abortion through the show’s six seasons. Sex and the City offers a stigma-free discussion of abortion. When one of the character, Miranda, finds out that she is pregnant and opts for having an abortion. Miranda’s decision prompts a discussion among Charlotte, Carrie, and Samantha. In this episode, Samantha reveals to the group that she has had two abortions, while Carrie has had one. Ultimately Miranda decides to have the baby, and “thus doesn’t break the U.S TV taboo of depicting abortion.” The downside of this discussion of abortion is that it lacks a larger political agenda and rather is focused on individual’s choice.
Female sexual pleasure is one of the central topics in Sex and the City. Like most third wave feminist, the show focuses on pleasure without attention to the dangers. The characters are not punished for being sexually active; nor are they treated as “fallen women” who must ultimately encounter some horrible fate. Rather, their sexual “selfishness” is rewarded and praised. Henry concludes that “in its insistence of female orgasm as fundamental right and essential part of sex, Sex and the City challenges “dominant media images of heterosexuality, such as pornographic ones, in which female orgasm is secondary to male pleasure”.
Sex and the City also questions the stereotype that a woman’s ultimate dream in life is to marry. Instead, it encourages women to pursue their careers’ goal. In one episode, for instance, Carrie discloses that the most significant achievement in her life is to get her book published. Miranda decides to have her kid without marrying the father, Steve. Samantha is an outspoken marriage resistance, who has no interest in the institution. In short, with the exception Charlotte, none of the other characters is particularly interested in marriage.
The issue with representation in Sex and the City is that the vision of female empowerment is limited by the fact the four lead characters are white, heterosexual, thin, conventionally attractive and economically well off. The time that they spend having brunch, and discussing the things going on their lives, is a luxury that non-white, working-class women cannot afford. Besides, Sex and the City reinforces the stereotype that there’s no such thing as bisexuality and it resists the notion that men are not entitled to gender experimentation. Bisexuality is depicted as a fad embraced by people in their twenties with the purpose to experiment. By doing this, Sex and the City reinforces the stereotype that men have to be heterosexual, tough, macho and burly.
Sex and the City reflects a positive vision of women’s empowerment, third-wave feminism ideas about choice and it promotes a message of unity and support in female friendships. -Melendez M
Sex and the City is more progressive in its depictions of a healthy female sex life, sexual pleasure, and female friendship. But is still depicting an all-white cast of characters who, largely live lives of economic and social privilege. When Miranda is trying to decide whether or not to get an abortion two of her friends discuss their own abortions and ultimately Miranda keeps her baby. The lack of taking a side in the abortion debate shows how this show did not take a strong stance on important and controversial topics surrounding women in the United States. The fact that they are four middle class women, who have the opportunity to live and shop in New York, attractive and white gives them the leisure to discuss sex and their choices within society. The show also is effective in showing fluid female sexuality through the character of Samantha who has a relationship with a woman Maria and calls straight/gay binary just labels. Though Samantha has a relationship with Maria female sexuality is presented as being more open to experimentation than men’s. There still continues to be a heavier anxiety around male bisexuality that does not go away. Samantha does later refer to sexuality as a label like Versace or Prada but there is not a storyline that involves male bisexuality or more fluid gender expression. When characters discuss men, they are dating people who are bisexual or are not traditionally masculine. The definitions of what is masculine or feminine are based on stereotypes and cultural definitions. Gender experimentation is considered to be taboo and the women collectively agree that they prefer more stereotypically masculine men. In Sex and the City, the show has strong representation of female empowerment, friendship, and orgasms but has a very gendered portrayal of masculinity. For the female characters if a character is bisexual or does not adhere to more traditional definitions of masculinity they are deemed less attractive. The show does not validate bisexuality, but instead poses it as a trait that they find unattractive. In Sex and the City men are denied bisexuality and is written off as a “fad”. Painting bisexuality as a generational fad that belongs to the twenty somethings Carrie dates/kisses in the show. Also, positioned as “confused” to reinforce the idea that Charlotte voiced earlier in the show that the individual has to pick a side either male/female and stay there.
Astrid Henry’s third-wave feminist reading of Sex and the City finds the show progressive in female representation in several ways. Henry states that the show provides a “forum about women’s sexuality” and is influenced by the feminist movement. Sex in the City is not another family or single-feminist-character sitcom and instead offers perspective into contemporary women’s lives. One way Sex and the City is progressive is that the four female friends in the show stick together and rule out the female stereotype of competition or cattiness towards other females. Seeing women form a team or community on TV, especially while discussing social and political concerns, was rare during the show’s airing. The four women value their friendship and attempt to understand each other on a deeper level. Close friends are considered the family you choose. When it comes to romance and soulmates, girlfriends may answer those intimate needs, and men can be viewed as secondary. The show also focuses on female laughter and humor, challenging another stereotype that women are not funny. Women laughing with women is posed as a threat towards male dominance. Female conversation is a central feature of the show, and the four friends are frequently seen discussing their latest thoughts and issues. Henry states that the show “routinely depicts women’s interpersonal struggle, as well as emotional labour.” Female discourse on choice (regarding marriage, careers, abortion, etc) and female sexual pleasure are presented in a positive light. On the other hand, Sex and the City falls short in representing bisexuality and male gender experimentation. The show resists alternatives of masculinity and heterosexuality and encourages biphobia and limited gender roles for men. This misrepresentation is apparent in an episode when one of the women dumps a man when she finds out he’s bisexual. Sex and the City also presents a limited view of feminism because its main characters are all white, middle-class, and heterosexual. As a result, the show provides no insight into intersectional issues between race, gender, and class.
Third-wave feminism began in the early 90s and in currently still in progress. It combines the political action of the second wave and the empowerment of female choice from the girlie feminist movement. Sex and the City, a show that aired on prime time television from 98-2004, showed how third wave feminism has been shaped by it’s previous movements through it’s four main characters. This group of friends were each an archetype of contemporary womanhood and served as representations of this generations feminist. In Astrid Henry’s analysis the show was progressive in many respects. The show centered on the friendship of four women who were neither catty or in competition with one another. In fact the show privileged the women’s platonic friendship over their romantic relationships. Each episode included a brunch date between the four where they discussed the current events in their lives in a humorous fashion. This not only shows the value of women’s discussion, but also challenges the stereotype that women are not funny. At these meetings they also discussed their choices about important topics such as marriage, their careers, abortion, and sex. Representing the empowerment of female choice consistent with third-wave feminism, The show also openly discussed female sexuality and pleasure as a right, and deemed sexual experimentation as healthy. However, there were a few problems in feminist representation within the show as well. It missed the chance to show diversity and intersectionality due to the fact that all four women are white, conventionally- attractive, thin, upper-class, conspicuous consumers. The show also resists alternatives of masculinity and male heterosexuality. This can be seen when Charlotte dates a man who is interested in fashion, broadway, and baking. They are also very compatible sexually but she breaks it off with him when he refuses to change a mouse trap. While Samantha is applauded for being a woman with a male’s ego and sexual libido. Samantha also dates a woman named Maria in the show for a brief period which is no big deal, but when Carrie dates a bisexual man she can’t seem to accept it, and eventually breaks it off with him as well.
Sex and the City is a show that was greatly influenced by third wave feminism, and because of this influence, is considered very progressive in certain aspects. This show focuses on four women and their everyday lives. The four main characters of this show all have their own personalities traits, their own interests, and their own ambitions, which is already a step up for female representation on television. The audience is able to see four different perspectives and viewpoints on issues they face, which gives us a look into the female discourse that was not popular prior to the show. In most shows or films that “feature” women, we see them in competition with one another, but not on this show. Instead, the narratives are focused on their friendships and adventures together, as well as their individual choices and the validation of choices of the women around them. Finally, this show steps outside the norm with the way it challenges two specific preconceived notions about women: that they are not funny, and that women are not inherently sexual beings. This show focuses on, and portrays, female laughter and comedy, while also allowing them to be sexual beings and focusing on female pleasure. While this show is leaps and bounds ahead of previous female representation, there are still areas that need to evolve even further. Our four main characters are white, conventionally attractive, and decently wealthy women. They are almost always shopping and focused on material items, reinforcing that women just love to shop. The gender expression in this show is also extremely gender normative. Men are deemed more desirable if they are masculine, and women if they are more feminine. This show gives you a limited, white, gender normative view of the world, while also implying that battle for women has already been won. This apolitical stance tells society that women do not have to fight anymore, that they have reached equality, but that is simply not the case.
Astrid Henry reads as progressive in the hit television show Sex and the City (HBO 1998-2004) is female representation, female laughter, female disclosure, and female sexual pleasure. The female representation is, 4 female friends who do not hate each other, are not in competition nor catty. The attention on their laughter/humor in the show contradict the stereotype that “women are not funny”. The times I’ve watched this show, in my opinion, I found each episode funny. They are either very sarcastic or just straight out funny. The female disclosure is connecting to third wave feminism and the importance of choice. Each female character deals with marriage-career-abortion. In one episode Miranda must decide on whether she is going to keep her baby. She had her career to think about and wasn’t certain on her partner Steve. Another example is Carrie, she is always dealing with love and her career. She is a hopeless romantic but knows her worth and writes about her experiences. Lastly female sexual pleasure is a right; sexual experimentation is perceived as being healthy in the show (Lecture). Among the four girls, Samantha has had her fair share of experimentation. Each girl has their wild adventurous, but the one that sticks out the most is Samantha sexual character. I remember in one episode she experimented with another woman. The problems in representation is the main characters are for white females who are thin, attractive, and well-to-do conspicuous consumers (Lecture). The four girls seem to have it all and live unrealistic life’s. It also shows resistance to masculinity and heterosexuality. Biphobia for men: The men in the show are only seen as gay, cannot accept than men can like both genders. The show described bisexuality as being embraced by people in the early 20s for experimentation. Lastly the show limits gender roles for men. Men are perceived as masculine if they are heterosexual. Masculinity in Sex and the city can be described as tough, macho, and burly.
Sex and the city focuses on women’s friendships. It is very rare to see women collectively addressing social and political concerns and doing it together as a community. These four female friends are not catty nor are they competitive with each other. This is something we are not use to seeing in mainstream television, especially reality television. The show focuses on female laughter with each other no matter what the characters had went through before the show ended. Astrid sees this as progressive because it helps argue the stereotype that “women are not funny”. In addition, Sex and the City focuses on choice. Characters have the freedom to choose the direction of their lives such as marriage, careers, abortions, motherhood, etc. This helps argue the notion that women should not be sexualized, should get married then have children, and once they do get married and have children, their husband and children should be the main focus of their lives. The show also focuses on female pleasure such as sexual experimentation being portrayed as healthy. This is very progressive since it seems like sexual experimentation is not accepted in any other show by a woman. In Sex and the City, what needs further consideration is the topic of bisexuality. In the show, the women do not validate males who are bisexual. Charlotte says, “ I’m very into labels. Gay. Straight. Pick a side and stay there.” Bisexuality is described as a fad embraced by youngsters in their 20’s who are “experimenting”. Sex and the City needs to further evaluate why it is okay for a woman to be “bi-sexual” and sexually experiment but it is not accepted for a man to be bi-sexual. Also, in Sex and the City, the women prefer their men to be straight on the butch side of the gender scale. Men cannot be anything but masculine if they are heterosexual. This too needs further consideration. This implies that gender experimentation remains more forbidden than sexual experimentation in today’s world.
It would have been wrong of me to take a Pop Culture class with a focus on women, gender and sexuality without paying respect to the show that embodies all three of these very topic and remains one of the most influential shows in television history- Sex and the City.
In Astrid Henry’s articles, Henry notes how pioneering it was for a show to not only showcase four single women in a series but to also have the four female protagonist speak so openly about sex. When the show debuted in 1998, Third Wave Feminism was beginning to usher in. This new type of “girly feminism” was best seen in the Carrie Bradshaw character who took pride and advantage of benefiting from the previous movements for feminism that paved the way to allow women of the upcoming millennium to have choices. Carrie can be empowered to make her own money and buy the pair of Manolo Blahniks without having to protest and push a female agenda. Third Wave Feminism shifted focus on to the individual rather than a one-size-fits all prescription on what a feminist should be. What SATC did so well was explore many of the different avenue a woman can explore in life be it a yearning stay-at-home mother, shoe-buying extraordinaire, powerhouse attorney or a proud “try-sexual.” SATC also tackled complicated and challenging issues women face like abortion, infidelity and infertility all with a quick wit and humor. Not only can women be complex individuals, they can also share a laugh and a pun or two over a cosmo. Ultimately, the series as a whole preached the message that when time get rough, it is our friends who know us and love us the most. A man is not necessary. Sex and the City is a triumphant and testament to the power of female friendship.
While it is challenging for me to ever revere Sex and the City as anything less than perfect, I suppose Henry raises some interesting concerns with the show. A common critique Henry and others raise is that while it is progressive to have four women staring in a series, it is all for nothing when all they talk about are men. Would SATC fail the Bechtel test? Yes…miserably. In fact, SATC serves as the antithesis for the Bechtel test. While there are moments throughout the series where conversations about men are not the focal point of conversations amongst the women (like the Season 6 episode arc where Samantha battles breast cancer) overall the conversations are dominated around the current men in their lives. As Henry points out there is also some concerns about representation and perception about male sexuality in two episodes. In the Season 2 episode, “Evolution”, Charlotte quickly dumps a man when they both squeal and leap in the air when a rat invades the kitchen. Charlotte quickly writes him off as not being “masculine” enough to date. The double standard for women being allowed to break the mold in conventional gender roles but men having to fit the bill of masculinity is seen even more in the Season 3 episode, “Boy, Girl, Boy, Girl.” When Carrie begins to date a bisexual man, he is quickly dismissed as being confused. This is troublesome as that ideology discredits those who truly identify as bisexual. Simply slapping the label of “confused” on those who identify as bisexual belittles struggles and challenges the group faces. By no means was SATC a macho-men-only club (don’t forget Charlotte’s beau- Harry), but it can be argued that the men in the series did not get the same three-dimensional drawn out character diversity as the leading ladies did.
Like Henry’s article begins and ends, in just two years Time magazine went from questioning whether or not feminism was dead to suddenly having the four women of SATC grace the cover declaring that feminism was still very much alive and thriving. Sex and the City paved the way for shows that would soon follow (Chanel) suit on just how meaningful and powerful female friendship truly is and, well, that’s just fabulous.
Some progressive elements Astrid Henry observed in the television show ‘Sex and the City’ is how the show represents the power the female cast had in society compared to other television shows at the time. Power through choice is seen in the fields of career and sexual pleasure and how laughter was represented in the show represents power. Despite the progressive messages, Henry criticized the show on some aspects such as the lack of ethnic diversity in the show along with how sexuality was represented in genders.
The power of choice is a strong message being sent to the viewers during the debut of the show. The female cast showed powers of choice in their career by being successful and showing viewers that a female is not bound to be a housewife but can strive for more. Another power of choice is seen in their conversations of sexual adventures, which would be seen as taboo for a female to be sexual adventerous due to the fear of being shamed by society.
Laughter was a key instrument in how the show demonstrated progression. The jokes and laughter the female characters shared with each other is very significant due to how negatively society associates the female gender and humour. By producing humour, the show is challenging the stereotype that females are not funny. Not only was the action of laughter powerful in this aspect but also the subject the laughter was about; examples being their sexual adventures with men. By turning the male into the subject of laughter, it displays the powerful position the females are in when reciting these stories. This power shift comes from how society places men as superior of females in the field of humour; this can be seen in how comedians are usually male rather than female.
Sex and The City is one of the first shows that had four different, yet very witty and smart women as its stars and how it incorporated third-wave feminism into the episodes. Astrid Henry noted that a show like this was way ahead of its time and could help women relate and men understand that women are human and not cookie-cutter dolls. Each women (Samantha, Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda) are all so unique and face daily challenges about relationships, work, and self-issues. Samantha promotes sexual liberation and openly admits to not wanting a husband or children. Miranda is a hardworking lawyer who gets knocked up by a bar tender who she ends up marrying. Charlottes mission in life is the white picket fence, but after a divorce and having a difficult time getting pregnant, she realises life is not that simple. Carrie is like the ordinary woman who wants love, but has a hard time finding it, especially when Mr. Big is coming in-and-out of her life. Though the show is very good, Astrid does note that Sex and the City stars four white, heterosexual women that are seemingly well-off so it does not really adhere to ‘real-life.’ Carrie’s best friend Stanley is gay and so we do get to see her perspective and how she tries to help him in his journey to love too. When Carrie is on a date with a man that is bisexual, she objectifies that it is only something for twenty-year olds to do, and doesn’t take it serious. Samantha also attempts a lesbian relationship, but feels trapped when Maria only wants to stay in and not do anything outside of the apartment. .The show does tread lightly with these issues, but Astrid notes that it is not enough. Comedy plays a great part in the show and adds lightness to darker issues (anxiety, break-ups, cancer etc.) Sex and The City will always be a great show. -Skylar A.
In her article, “Orgasms and Empowerment”, Astrid Henry states her perspective of the show “Sex and the City” and its correlation with third-wave feminism. The show is known for its depiction of female sexuality and its focus on female pleasure and experimentation; it portrays 4 different women’s viewpoints which can be seen as or influenced by feminist ideologies. First off, the show moves away from the traditional family-based sitcoms and focuses on the 4 women’s friendship. Despite the struggles and situations these women are faced with, they withstand it all together and support each other. Another theme that Henry talks about is how the show portrays the importance of women’s conversations. In one of the episodes, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, Miranda (one of the 4 women) expresses how conversations shouldn’t just be revolving around men and that talking about each other’s’ feelings and thoughts should be equally discussed. Despite the show having its fair depictions of third-wave feminism, there are still a few drawbacks to it. First, all 4 women are white, heterosexual, conventionally attractive, and economically stable; their race and class give them the privilege of expressing their sexual freedom without being discriminated. If we saw 4 women who were of different races (say, women from black or Latina heritage), they would be labeled by society as sexual predators. Another issue that the show portrays is that bisexuality and male gender experimentation are often deemed undesirable by the 4 women. In an episode, Carrie (one of the main protagonists) questions whether bisexuality even exists or not. In another episode, Charlotte dates a so-called “gay straight man” who embraces feminism traits a little too much in the women’s eyes; Charlotte ends up calling things off because of that reason. This all asserts that the women tend to only prefer straight men.
In Astrid Henry’s article “Orgasims and Empowerment”, She talks about the HBO series Sex and the City. The show Sex and the City is about four women that live in New York and their life experiences and their friendship. In the article Henry covers the positive or progressive areas and the negative areas of the show. One of the positive aspects of the show that Henry mentions is the show focuses on four women and their friendship. It shows that a group of women can be friends and not be competitive with each other. They always put their friendship first. Which play a role in another part of the show and the female discourse that happens during the series. The friends do fight and argue because they all have different viewpoints, but they always stay friends throughout the series . Besides female friendship the show also focuses on female laughter. Usually in shows, the female character are not that funny but in this show they focus on their comedy. Another progressive aspect of the series is their promiscuous sex lives. The group are very sexual and Sex and the City shows that is is okay for females to have pleasure and can experiment. There is also third wave feminism representation in Sex and the City. The show focuses on individual choice and validating the choices of women like marriage and careers, . With all these progressive aspects there are some problematic representations of the show and characters. There is no diversity with the characters. They are all white, thin, and attractive women. They contribute the stereotype of conspicuous consumption. The characters love to shop. The show is also very a political. The Sex and the City characters never would talk about politics. Even though in real life adults talk about politics very regularly. The show is does a good job being progressive, but no show is perfect and has some areas that are problematic.
In the article, “Orgasms and Empowerment”, Astrid Henry states how “Sex and the City” positively depicts women. The show is progressive in the way it tackles sexual freedoms such as female autonomy and sexual experimentation. This is best shown through one of the show’s members, Samantha. She is a woman who does not want to get married or have children. She also has the liberty to experiment with her sexuality by dating a girl. She, as well as the rest of her friends, has the power of choice to do what they please or do what pleases them. The show is also progressive in how it focuses on friendship. It shows how a group of women can get along well, as opposed to the usually depiction of catfights or cattiness when a group of women are put together. Astrid Henry does point out some areas that could use some consideration. For example there is no diversity in the cast. All the women are white, thin, rich, and beautiful in the conventional term. The inclusion of colored women and women with other body types are omitted, so the show perpetuates Hollywood’s ideal standard of what a women should look like. It completely ignores the intersectionality of women. They show also seems to take a conservative retreat when it comes to male bisexuality. Samantha is accepted by her group of friends for dating a woman, but the reaction is largely different when Carrie dates a man who is bisexual. Carrie, the main protagonist, claims, “I’m not even sure bisexuality exist.” Samantha, who has dated men and women, claims that bisexuality is a generational thing or a fad. This shows how gender experimentation is more taboo than sexual experimentation. Sex and the City is progressive in some aspects like sexual liberation, but has some problematic aspects such as gender experimentation.
In her article “Orgasms and Empowerment,” Astrid Henry discusses Sex and the City, a late ’90’s sitcom that follows the lives and sexual narratives of four female friends. She states that it is is a progressive show because it promotes feminist views of choice and sexual freedom. Though the show focuses on four women, it never centers on cattiness or competition, but instead on support and female laughter. The four characters are all different, some more sexually experienced and curious, some valuing more traditional female roles. The key is that they all accept and support each other in these choices. For example, Samantha enjoys one night stands, exciting experiments, and doesn’t want to marry. Her pleasure comes from her freedom and her friends all live vicariously through her stories, even if they don’t wish to have the same experiences. They promote her experimentation as healthy and normal. On the other side. there’s Charlotte, who values traditional romantic love and would love to be a housewife. Her friends, although more liberal, never judge her for her personal choice. This example of third wave feminism, or choice feminism, allows Sex and the City to show that everyone’s beliefs are respectable. The show also openly discusses female sexual pleasure and masturbation as a right, both of which have often been viewed as taboo topics. In these ways, the show brought real female experiences to light in a manner that made them accessible and normal.
However, while Sex and the City promoted female experimentation and sexual liberation, it frowned upon the same experiences for men. Both Carrie and Charlotte openly deny male bisexuality and the show upholds the idea that metrosexual and bisexual men can’t be masculine. This ignores that sexuality is a spectrum for everyone, and limits the gender roles for men while resisting the idea that there are alternative forms of masculinity. The show focuses only on heterosexuality. Another problem in its representation of women is that the four main characters are thin, conventionally attractive white women who supposedly represent the entire gender. While their experiences are valuable, some of the topics Sex and the City ignore are important and also devalue the show’s progressive stance by being ignored.
Sex and the City has been better than most television shows at portraying the female experience. However, this does not always outweigh the ways in which it can be problematic at times. The ways in which Sex in the City has been progressive, includes fantastic portrayal of female friendship, marriage, career, and sexuality. The show makes a point of portraying the friendship between Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha as funny, supportive, and loving. Most of all, it does not always center on men or romance. The four friends support each other through abortion, cancer, career decisions, and more. Not all of the women intend to marry either. Samantha decides she never wants to marry, while Miranda decides to have a child before marrying. All the women discuss their sex lives with a lot of detail together, with issues concerning masturbation, the female orgasm, and more becoming central to the plot. The main areas that need further consideration have to do with representation of bisexuality, diversity in the cast, and the privilege of the main characters. In general, bisexuality is not represented correctly throughout the show, especially in regards to male bisexuality. At one point, Carrie is dating a bisexual man and Carrie and most of her friends treat his sexuality like “phase”. Miranda even goes as far as to say that he needs to pick between either being gay or straight. As far as the cast is concerned, there is very little diversity. All four of the main characters are white, straight, cisgender, middle/upper class women, and the plot barely ever touches upon issues such as race and class. Furthermore, all of their struggles concerning class or money are portrayed as frivolous, like when Carrie spends too much money on shoes. Furthermore, they are all in positions of privilege where they are able to have posh jobs at art museums, as lawyers, or as writers. While Sex and the City has made strides in portraying women more accurately, at the end of the day it isn’t perfect (like most popular culture products).
Astrid Henry writes in one of her chapters, Orgasms and empowerment: Sex and the City and the third wave feminism, about the progressive and remiss aspects of Sex and the City in relation to feminism. The premise of the beloved TV show revolves around the close friendship between four unique women: Charlotte, Miranda, Samantha, and Carrie. It portrays these women going about their lives and how they deal with different situations from boyfriends and husbands to professional issues. They would always meet once a week to discuss their quandaries over food. Portraying women as friends who support each other instead of as competitors who trash one another was a progressive part of Sex and the City. Moreover, each of these women brought a different perspective to each dilemma within modern life, which lets the viewer see that there isn’t just one school of thought. This combats the idea that there is only one congruent school of thought in feminism. All the women have been influenced by the movement, yet each of them offer a different solution to any one problem. Despite their sometimes-conflicting views, they all come together to support each other’s choices and act as each other’s family and community. However, the focus on individual choice detracts from the larger, political movement. The fact these women have the leisure time to discuss their sex lives to the extent that they do, is a privilege of their class and race. The show displays four white, wealthy, career women who demonstrate an economically, racially, and sexually privileged version of what feminism is. This version of feminism has come to represent to a lot of people the movement as a whole. But feminism is very intersectional and crosses over race and class, and this neglect to recognize that is very much like third wave feminism. In some ways Sex and the City was progressive, but in others it excluded important parts of feminism.
In “Orgasms and empowerment: Sex and the City and the third wave feminism,” Astrid Henry analyzes Sex and the City and points out how the show reflects third wave feminist ideas. She explains that, unlike traditional TV sitcoms, Sex and the City focuses on the relationship between the four female main characters and often depicts this relationship as being more important that sexual or romantic love. In addition to this, while the four do talk about their various problems with men, they never fight over these men as is usually the case with women on TV. This puts this focus of the show solely on these women as opposed to the men they interact with. One of the major ways Sex and the City is considered progressive is in its portrayal of female sexuality. The characters are never chastised or depicted as ‘fallen’ women after any of their sexual encounters. In fact, the show puts immense importance on female sexual pleasure. In one episode, Samantha proclaims that she “lost her orgasm” prompting a discussion on how it is within the rights of a woman to demand an orgasm during sex. In another episode, Miranda breaks up with her significant other solely because her cannot make her come. Although this show was very progressive, there were still areas that could have been improved. For one, the main characters are all “white, heterosexual, thin, conventionally attractive, and importantly, economically well off.” This means these women could “define liberation exclusively in terms of sexual freedom.” Unfortunately this type of liberation is unobtainable to a number of people including those of color and those who are from a lower class. Also, while Sex and the City promotes female sexuality including their right to ‘experiment’, the show is less forgiving on the male characters. When Samantha starts dating Maria, the other women are more surprised that she is in a relationship in general, let alone a relationship with a woman. Overall they are supportive of her. However, when Carrie finds out that she is dating a bisexual man, the discussion turns to the idea that he should “pick a side and stay there.” The message is women’s sexuality is fluid, but men’s must be constant. -Megan R.
Astrid Henry in her article "Orgasms and Empowerment" analyzes the dynamics of the show sex and the city which tells the story of four women living in New York City and their adventures. She writes about her thoughts and feelings on the show and sees many progressive aspects towards feminism and how women are portrayed in popular culture. With the progressiveness however, she also marks many aspects that are problematic with how people are portrayed.
ReplyDeleteHenry talks about many parts that are progressive. One example is the idea of 4 women and the focus on female friendship instead competition. Breaking the stereotype that all women are out to compete with one another and shows the intricacy of female lives and relationships. All the women on the show have different viewpoints about many parts of life like careers, marriage, and abortion. This shows that women are free-willed thinkers who can express their opinions especially on subjects that are directly correlated with their bodies and happiness. The show is a comedy which breaks the stereotype that women are not funny. The show also shows some of the sexual adventures these women go through and shows that women sexuality is not something to be limited and controlled. Women should be able to make their own choices and should not be judged for the decisions that they make. Sex and the City has a huge focus on the women's individuality which directly correlates 3rd wave feminism and the idea of choice feminism.
Some problems that Henry identified with the show is that all the women are white, thin, attractive, and well-off. It does not show an accurate representation of the diversity of women and the diversity of New York. It only represents a very small portion of women who can identify with the 4 protagonists. The show also perpetuates that all women love shopping and spending money. The show does not really take any noticeable political standpoints and misses out on the ability to make some sort of difference in the media and popular culture. The last major issue with the show is how it shows gender expression beyond masculinity which allows the show to be devalued by men who are normalized to be homophobic and discredit the entire series as being a "chick" "gay" show since it is directed by a gay man. The message gets lost in being "a gay man's point of view" instead of just a person's point of view of how society is effected people.
- RJ G
DeleteThrough Astrid Henry's analysis of Sex and the City, she reads into different aspects of the show that could be considered progressive, and some aspects that could be considered problematic. First, she notes that the show is progressive by simply having four female leads who focus on their friendship with one another rather than competition between one another. Typically in media, women are conveyed as catty and out to get one another fueled by some sort of competition. But in Sex and the City, these women experience genuine friendship with each other. Another component of progressiveness in the show is the female discourse. Each woman has a unique personality, completely different than her friends, which provides various input, advice, action and ways of thinking throughout the show. This gives the audience the opportunity to identify with one of the characters; there is a bit of something for everyone. There is also a huge aspect of female comedy in the show. Women are typically not viewed as funny, society setting a standard expressing women are unable to be comedic- compare the number of successful male comedians and successful female comedians. However, Sex and the City follows the lives of the four women, their experiences the majority of the time being funny. Lastly, Sex and the City validates the notion of choice for women. Choice in their careers, choice in female experimentation, and in their promiscuous sex lives. Although containing many progressive pieces, Henry notes that Sex and the City also holds problematic aspects. Sex and the City does have four female leads, but these leads are all white, conventionally attractive, and thin. There are no women of color in their circle, or women with realistic body types, etc, and there is no attempt to add them. Conspicuous consumption is also heavily present in the show, each woman wearing designer clothing, and shopping/socializing at trendy bars and clubs being a huge form of entertainment for the characters. Lastly, through the long lasting series, there is no political action taken by any of the characters. This seems to be a waste because of the amount of people who tuned into the show when it was live and the amount who even still tune in today.
ReplyDeleteMadelynne S.
In “Orgasms and Empowerment: Sex and the City and the third wave feminism” Henry states that Sex and the City is progressive in the sense that the four female characters offer an insight into female sexuality, relationship, and the lives of contemporary women that defies negative female stereotypes. Henry also establishes a connection between the programme of the show and third wave feminism ideas, since the show addresses different key issues and themes discussed by third-wave writers. In fact, the show focus on female laughter and humor, female sexual pleasure as a right and sexual experimentation as being healthy. Also, the dialogue between the four women revolves around the notion of choice in different aspects of life such as marriage, careers, and procreation. Although Sex and the City has key progressive elements in its portrayal of female lead characters; it neglects race and class when addressing these issues. Moreover, the show also establishes limits to masculinity, heterosexuality and gender experimentation.
ReplyDeleteHumour in the show is shared by the characters defying the stereotype that women are not funny. Also, Humour is used as a strategy for addressing what are often difficult and complicated issues, such as heartbreaks, divorce, impotence, infertility and abortion through the show’s six seasons. Sex and the City offers a stigma-free discussion of abortion. When one of the character, Miranda, finds out that she is pregnant and opts for having an abortion. Miranda’s decision prompts a discussion among Charlotte, Carrie, and Samantha. In this episode, Samantha reveals to the group that she has had two abortions, while Carrie has had one. Ultimately Miranda decides to have the baby, and “thus doesn’t break the U.S TV taboo of depicting abortion.” The downside of this discussion of abortion is that it lacks a larger political agenda and rather is focused on individual’s choice.
Female sexual pleasure is one of the central topics in Sex and the City. Like most third wave feminist, the show focuses on pleasure without attention to the dangers. The characters are not punished for being sexually active; nor are they treated as “fallen women” who must ultimately encounter some horrible fate. Rather, their sexual “selfishness” is rewarded and praised. Henry concludes that “in its insistence of female orgasm as fundamental right and essential part of sex, Sex and the City challenges “dominant media images of heterosexuality, such as pornographic ones, in which female orgasm is secondary to male pleasure”.
Sex and the City also questions the stereotype that a woman’s ultimate dream in life is to marry. Instead, it encourages women to pursue their careers’ goal. In one episode, for instance, Carrie discloses that the most significant achievement in her life is to get her book published. Miranda decides to have her kid without marrying the father, Steve. Samantha is an outspoken marriage resistance, who has no interest in the institution. In short, with the exception Charlotte, none of the other characters is particularly interested in marriage.
The issue with representation in Sex and the City is that the vision of female empowerment is limited by the fact the four lead characters are white, heterosexual, thin, conventionally attractive and economically well off. The time that they spend having brunch, and discussing the things going on their lives, is a luxury that non-white, working-class women cannot afford. Besides, Sex and the City reinforces the stereotype that there’s no such thing as bisexuality and it resists the notion that men are not entitled to gender experimentation. Bisexuality is depicted as a fad embraced by people in their twenties with the purpose to experiment. By doing this, Sex and the City reinforces the stereotype that men have to be heterosexual, tough, macho and burly.
Sex and the City reflects a positive vision of women’s empowerment, third-wave feminism ideas about choice and it promotes a message of unity and support in female friendships.
-Melendez M
Sex and the City is more progressive in its depictions of a healthy female sex life, sexual pleasure, and female friendship. But is still depicting an all-white cast of characters who, largely live lives of economic and social privilege. When Miranda is trying to decide whether or not to get an abortion two of her friends discuss their own abortions and ultimately Miranda keeps her baby. The lack of taking a side in the abortion debate shows how this show did not take a strong stance on important and controversial topics surrounding women in the United States. The fact that they are four middle class women, who have the opportunity to live and shop in New York, attractive and white gives them the leisure to discuss sex and their choices within society.
ReplyDeleteThe show also is effective in showing fluid female sexuality through the character of Samantha who has a relationship with a woman Maria and calls straight/gay binary just labels. Though Samantha has a relationship with Maria female sexuality is presented as being more open to experimentation than men’s. There still continues to be a heavier anxiety around male bisexuality that does not go away. Samantha does later refer to sexuality as a label like Versace or Prada but there is not a storyline that involves male bisexuality or more fluid gender expression. When characters discuss men, they are dating people who are bisexual or are not traditionally masculine. The definitions of what is masculine or feminine are based on stereotypes and cultural definitions. Gender experimentation is considered to be taboo and the women collectively agree that they prefer more stereotypically masculine men. In Sex and the City, the show has strong representation of female empowerment, friendship, and orgasms but has a very gendered portrayal of masculinity. For the female characters if a character is bisexual or does not adhere to more traditional definitions of masculinity they are deemed less attractive. The show does not validate bisexuality, but instead poses it as a trait that they find unattractive. In Sex and the City men are denied bisexuality and is written off as a “fad”. Painting bisexuality as a generational fad that belongs to the twenty somethings Carrie dates/kisses in the show. Also, positioned as “confused” to reinforce the idea that Charlotte voiced earlier in the show that the individual has to pick a side either male/female and stay there.
Aurora S.
Astrid Henry’s third-wave feminist reading of Sex and the City finds the show progressive in female representation in several ways. Henry states that the show provides a “forum about women’s sexuality” and is influenced by the feminist movement. Sex in the City is not another family or single-feminist-character sitcom and instead offers perspective into contemporary women’s lives.
ReplyDeleteOne way Sex and the City is progressive is that the four female friends in the show stick together and rule out the female stereotype of competition or cattiness towards other females. Seeing women form a team or community on TV, especially while discussing social and political concerns, was rare during the show’s airing. The four women value their friendship and attempt to understand each other on a deeper level. Close friends are considered the family you choose. When it comes to romance and soulmates, girlfriends may answer those intimate needs, and men can be viewed as secondary.
The show also focuses on female laughter and humor, challenging another stereotype that women are not funny. Women laughing with women is posed as a threat towards male dominance. Female conversation is a central feature of the show, and the four friends are frequently seen discussing their latest thoughts and issues. Henry states that the show “routinely depicts women’s interpersonal struggle, as well as emotional labour.” Female discourse on choice (regarding marriage, careers, abortion, etc) and female sexual pleasure are presented in a positive light.
On the other hand, Sex and the City falls short in representing bisexuality and male gender experimentation. The show resists alternatives of masculinity and heterosexuality and encourages biphobia and limited gender roles for men. This misrepresentation is apparent in an episode when one of the women dumps a man when she finds out he’s bisexual. Sex and the City also presents a limited view of feminism because its main characters are all white, middle-class, and heterosexual. As a result, the show provides no insight into intersectional issues between race, gender, and class.
Beatriz L.
ReplyDeleteThird-wave feminism began in the early 90s and in currently still in progress. It combines the political action of the second wave and the empowerment of female choice from the girlie feminist movement. Sex and the City, a show that aired on prime time television from 98-2004, showed how third wave feminism has been shaped by it’s previous movements through it’s four main characters. This group of friends were each an archetype of contemporary womanhood and served as representations of this generations feminist.
In Astrid Henry’s analysis the show was progressive in many respects. The show centered on the friendship of four women who were neither catty or in competition with one another. In fact the show privileged the women’s platonic friendship over their romantic relationships. Each episode included a brunch date between the four where they discussed the current events in their lives in a humorous fashion. This not only shows the value of women’s discussion, but also challenges the stereotype that women are not funny. At these meetings they also discussed their choices about important topics such as marriage, their careers, abortion, and sex. Representing the empowerment of female choice consistent with third-wave feminism, The show also openly discussed female sexuality and pleasure as a right, and deemed sexual experimentation as healthy.
However, there were a few problems in feminist representation within the show as well. It missed the chance to show diversity and intersectionality due to the fact that all four women are white, conventionally- attractive, thin, upper-class, conspicuous consumers. The show also resists alternatives of masculinity and male heterosexuality. This can be seen when Charlotte dates a man who is interested in fashion, broadway, and baking. They are also very compatible sexually but she breaks it off with him when he refuses to change a mouse trap. While Samantha is applauded for being a woman with a male’s ego and sexual libido. Samantha also dates a woman named Maria in the show for a brief period which is no big deal, but when Carrie dates a bisexual man she can’t seem to accept it, and eventually breaks it off with him as well.
-Andrea W
Sex and the City is a show that was greatly influenced by third wave feminism, and because of this influence, is considered very progressive in certain aspects. This show focuses on four women and their everyday lives. The four main characters of this show all have their own personalities traits, their own interests, and their own ambitions, which is already a step up for female representation on television. The audience is able to see four different perspectives and viewpoints on issues they face, which gives us a look into the female discourse that was not popular prior to the show.
ReplyDeleteIn most shows or films that “feature” women, we see them in competition with one another, but not on this show. Instead, the narratives are focused on their friendships and adventures together, as well as their individual choices and the validation of choices of the women around them. Finally, this show steps outside the norm with the way it challenges two specific preconceived notions about women: that they are not funny, and that women are not inherently sexual beings. This show focuses on, and portrays, female laughter and comedy, while also allowing them to be sexual beings and focusing on female pleasure.
While this show is leaps and bounds ahead of previous female representation, there are still areas that need to evolve even further. Our four main characters are white, conventionally attractive, and decently wealthy women. They are almost always shopping and focused on material items, reinforcing that women just love to shop. The gender expression in this show is also extremely gender normative. Men are deemed more desirable if they are masculine, and women if they are more feminine. This show gives you a limited, white, gender normative view of the world, while also implying that battle for women has already been won. This apolitical stance tells society that women do not have to fight anymore, that they have reached equality, but that is simply not the case.
- Tessa B
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ReplyDeleteAstrid Henry reads as progressive in the hit television show Sex and the City (HBO 1998-2004) is female representation, female laughter, female disclosure, and female sexual pleasure. The female representation is, 4 female friends who do not hate each other, are not in competition nor catty. The attention on their laughter/humor in the show contradict the stereotype that “women are not funny”. The times I’ve watched this show, in my opinion, I found each episode funny. They are either very sarcastic or just straight out funny. The female disclosure is connecting to third wave feminism and the importance of choice. Each female character deals with marriage-career-abortion. In one episode Miranda must decide on whether she is going to keep her baby. She had her career to think about and wasn’t certain on her partner Steve. Another example is Carrie, she is always dealing with love and her career. She is a hopeless romantic but knows her worth and writes about her experiences. Lastly female sexual pleasure is a right; sexual experimentation is perceived as being healthy in the show (Lecture). Among the four girls, Samantha has had her fair share of experimentation. Each girl has their wild adventurous, but the one that sticks out the most is Samantha sexual character. I remember in one episode she experimented with another woman.
ReplyDeleteThe problems in representation is the main characters are for white females who are thin, attractive, and well-to-do conspicuous consumers (Lecture). The four girls seem to have it all and live unrealistic life’s. It also shows resistance to masculinity and heterosexuality. Biphobia for men: The men in the show are only seen as gay, cannot accept than men can like both genders. The show described bisexuality as being embraced by people in the early 20s for experimentation. Lastly the show limits gender roles for men. Men are perceived as masculine if they are heterosexual. Masculinity in Sex and the city can be described as tough, macho, and burly.
-Alexis B
ReplyDeleteSex and the city focuses on women’s friendships. It is very rare to see women collectively
addressing social and political concerns and doing it together as a community. These four female friends are not catty nor are they competitive with each other. This is something we are not use to seeing in mainstream television, especially reality television. The show focuses on female laughter with each other no matter what the characters had went through before the show ended. Astrid sees this as progressive because it helps argue the stereotype that “women are not funny”. In addition, Sex and the City focuses on choice. Characters have the freedom to choose the direction of their lives such as marriage, careers, abortions, motherhood, etc. This helps argue the notion that women should not be sexualized, should get married then have children, and once they do get married and have children, their husband and children should be the main focus of their lives. The show also focuses on female pleasure such as sexual experimentation being portrayed as healthy. This is very progressive since it seems like sexual experimentation is not accepted in any other show by a woman. In Sex and the City, what needs further consideration is the topic of bisexuality. In the show, the women do not validate males who are bisexual. Charlotte says, “ I’m very into labels. Gay. Straight. Pick a side and stay there.” Bisexuality is described as a fad embraced by youngsters in their 20’s who are “experimenting”. Sex and the City needs to further evaluate why it is okay for a woman to be “bi-sexual” and sexually experiment but it is not accepted for a man to be bi-sexual. Also, in Sex and the City, the women prefer their men to be straight on the butch side of the gender scale. Men cannot be anything but masculine if they are heterosexual. This too needs further consideration. This implies that gender experimentation remains more forbidden than sexual experimentation in today’s world.
Erika D.
It would have been wrong of me to take a Pop Culture class with a focus on women, gender and sexuality without paying respect to the show that embodies all three of these very topic and remains one of the most influential shows in television history- Sex and the City.
ReplyDeleteIn Astrid Henry’s articles, Henry notes how pioneering it was for a show to not only showcase four single women in a series but to also have the four female protagonist speak so openly about sex. When the show debuted in 1998, Third Wave Feminism was beginning to usher in. This new type of “girly feminism” was best seen in the Carrie Bradshaw character who took pride and advantage of benefiting from the previous movements for feminism that paved the way to allow women of the upcoming millennium to have choices. Carrie can be empowered to make her own money and buy the pair of Manolo Blahniks without having to protest and push a female agenda. Third Wave Feminism shifted focus on to the individual rather than a one-size-fits all prescription on what a feminist should be. What SATC did so well was explore many of the different avenue a woman can explore in life be it a yearning stay-at-home mother, shoe-buying extraordinaire, powerhouse attorney or a proud “try-sexual.” SATC also tackled complicated and challenging issues women face like abortion, infidelity and infertility all with a quick wit and humor. Not only can women be complex individuals, they can also share a laugh and a pun or two over a cosmo. Ultimately, the series as a whole preached the message that when time get rough, it is our friends who know us and love us the most. A man is not necessary. Sex and the City is a triumphant and testament to the power of female friendship.
While it is challenging for me to ever revere Sex and the City as anything less than perfect, I suppose Henry raises some interesting concerns with the show. A common critique Henry and others raise is that while it is progressive to have four women staring in a series, it is all for nothing when all they talk about are men. Would SATC fail the Bechtel test? Yes…miserably. In fact, SATC serves as the antithesis for the Bechtel test. While there are moments throughout the series where conversations about men are not the focal point of conversations amongst the women (like the Season 6 episode arc where Samantha battles breast cancer) overall the conversations are dominated around the current men in their lives. As Henry points out there is also some concerns about representation and perception about male sexuality in two episodes. In the Season 2 episode, “Evolution”, Charlotte quickly dumps a man when they both squeal and leap in the air when a rat invades the kitchen. Charlotte quickly writes him off as not being “masculine” enough to date. The double standard for women being allowed to break the mold in conventional gender roles but men having to fit the bill of masculinity is seen even more in the Season 3 episode, “Boy, Girl, Boy, Girl.” When Carrie begins to date a bisexual man, he is quickly dismissed as being confused. This is troublesome as that ideology discredits those who truly identify as bisexual. Simply slapping the label of “confused” on those who identify as bisexual belittles struggles and challenges the group faces. By no means was SATC a macho-men-only club (don’t forget Charlotte’s beau- Harry), but it can be argued that the men in the series did not get the same three-dimensional drawn out character diversity as the leading ladies did.
Like Henry’s article begins and ends, in just two years Time magazine went from questioning whether or not feminism was dead to suddenly having the four women of SATC grace the cover declaring that feminism was still very much alive and thriving. Sex and the City paved the way for shows that would soon follow (Chanel) suit on just how meaningful and powerful female friendship truly is and, well, that’s just fabulous.
Steven G.
Some progressive elements Astrid Henry observed in the television show ‘Sex and the City’ is how the show represents the power the female cast had in society compared to other television shows at the time. Power through choice is seen in the fields of career and sexual pleasure and how laughter was represented in the show represents power. Despite the progressive messages, Henry criticized the show on some aspects such as the lack of ethnic diversity in the show along with how sexuality was represented in genders.
ReplyDeleteThe power of choice is a strong message being sent to the viewers during the debut of the show. The female cast showed powers of choice in their career by being successful and showing viewers that a female is not bound to be a housewife but can strive for more. Another power of choice is seen in their conversations of sexual adventures, which would be seen as taboo for a female to be sexual adventerous due to the fear of being shamed by society.
Laughter was a key instrument in how the show demonstrated progression. The jokes and laughter the female characters shared with each other is very significant due to how negatively society associates the female gender and humour. By producing humour, the show is challenging the stereotype that females are not funny. Not only was the action of laughter powerful in this aspect but also the subject the laughter was about; examples being their sexual adventures with men. By turning the male into the subject of laughter, it displays the powerful position the females are in when reciting these stories. This power shift comes from how society places men as superior of females in the field of humour; this can be seen in how comedians are usually male rather than female.
Tommy L.
Sex and The City is one of the first shows that had four different, yet very witty and smart women as its stars and how it incorporated third-wave feminism into the episodes. Astrid Henry noted that a show like this was way ahead of its time and could help women relate and men understand that women are human and not cookie-cutter dolls. Each women (Samantha, Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda) are all so unique and face daily challenges about relationships, work, and self-issues. Samantha promotes sexual liberation and openly admits to not wanting a husband or children. Miranda is a hardworking lawyer who gets knocked up by a bar tender who she ends up marrying. Charlottes mission in life is the white picket fence, but after a divorce and having a difficult time getting pregnant, she realises life is not that simple. Carrie is like the ordinary woman who wants love, but has a hard time finding it, especially when Mr. Big is coming in-and-out of her life. Though the show is very good, Astrid does note that Sex and the City stars four white, heterosexual women that are seemingly well-off so it does not really adhere to ‘real-life.’ Carrie’s best friend Stanley is gay and so we do get to see her perspective and how she tries to help him in his journey to love too. When Carrie is on a date with a man that is bisexual, she objectifies that it is only something for twenty-year olds to do, and doesn’t take it serious. Samantha also attempts a lesbian relationship, but feels trapped when Maria only wants to stay in and not do anything outside of the apartment. .The show does tread lightly with these issues, but Astrid notes that it is not enough. Comedy plays a great part in the show and adds lightness to darker issues (anxiety, break-ups, cancer etc.) Sex and The City will always be a great show.
ReplyDelete-Skylar A.
In her article, “Orgasms and Empowerment”, Astrid Henry states her perspective of the show “Sex and the City” and its correlation with third-wave feminism. The show is known for its depiction of female sexuality and its focus on female pleasure and experimentation; it portrays 4 different women’s viewpoints which can be seen as or influenced by feminist ideologies.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, the show moves away from the traditional family-based sitcoms and focuses on the 4 women’s friendship. Despite the struggles and situations these women are faced with, they withstand it all together and support each other. Another theme that Henry talks about is how the show portrays the importance of women’s conversations. In one of the episodes, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, Miranda (one of the 4 women) expresses how conversations shouldn’t just be revolving around men and that talking about each other’s’ feelings and thoughts should be equally discussed.
Despite the show having its fair depictions of third-wave feminism, there are still a few drawbacks to it. First, all 4 women are white, heterosexual, conventionally attractive, and economically stable; their race and class give them the privilege of expressing their sexual freedom without being discriminated. If we saw 4 women who were of different races (say, women from black or Latina heritage), they would be labeled by society as sexual predators.
Another issue that the show portrays is that bisexuality and male gender experimentation are often deemed undesirable by the 4 women. In an episode, Carrie (one of the main protagonists) questions whether bisexuality even exists or not. In another episode, Charlotte dates a so-called “gay straight man” who embraces feminism traits a little too much in the women’s eyes; Charlotte ends up calling things off because of that reason. This all asserts that the women tend to only prefer straight men.
-Anam R.
In Astrid Henry’s article “Orgasims and Empowerment”, She talks about the HBO series Sex and the City. The show Sex and the City is about four women that live in New York and their life experiences and their friendship. In the article Henry covers the positive or progressive areas and the negative areas of the show. One of the positive aspects of the show that Henry mentions is the show focuses on four women and their friendship. It shows that a group of women can be friends and not be competitive with each other. They always put their friendship first. Which play a role in another part of the show and the female discourse that happens during the series. The friends do fight and argue because they all have different viewpoints, but they always stay friends throughout the series . Besides female friendship the show also focuses on female laughter. Usually in shows, the female character are not that funny but in this show they focus on their comedy. Another progressive aspect of the series is their promiscuous sex lives. The group are very sexual and Sex and the City shows that is is okay for females to have pleasure and can experiment. There is also third wave feminism representation in Sex and the City. The show focuses on individual choice and validating the choices of women like marriage and careers, . With all these progressive aspects there are some problematic representations of the show and characters. There is no diversity with the characters. They are all white, thin, and attractive women. They contribute the stereotype of conspicuous consumption. The characters love to shop. The show is also very a political. The Sex and the City characters never would talk about politics. Even though in real life adults talk about politics very regularly. The show is does a good job being progressive, but no show is perfect and has some areas that are problematic.
ReplyDeletePhilip P.
In the article, “Orgasms and Empowerment”, Astrid Henry states how “Sex and the City” positively depicts women. The show is progressive in the way it tackles sexual freedoms such as female autonomy and sexual experimentation. This is best shown through one of the show’s members, Samantha. She is a woman who does not want to get married or have children. She also has the liberty to experiment with her sexuality by dating a girl. She, as well as the rest of her friends, has the power of choice to do what they please or do what pleases them. The show is also progressive in how it focuses on friendship. It shows how a group of women can get along well, as opposed to the usually depiction of catfights or cattiness when a group of women are put together. Astrid Henry does point out some areas that could use some consideration. For example there is no diversity in the cast. All the women are white, thin, rich, and beautiful in the conventional term. The inclusion of colored women and women with other body types are omitted, so the show perpetuates Hollywood’s ideal standard of what a women should look like. It completely ignores the intersectionality of women. They show also seems to take a conservative retreat when it comes to male bisexuality. Samantha is accepted by her group of friends for dating a woman, but the reaction is largely different when Carrie dates a man who is bisexual. Carrie, the main protagonist, claims, “I’m not even sure bisexuality exist.” Samantha, who has dated men and women, claims that bisexuality is a generational thing or a fad. This shows how gender experimentation is more taboo than sexual experimentation. Sex and the City is progressive in some aspects like sexual liberation, but has some problematic aspects such as gender experimentation.
ReplyDeleteIshoa G
In her article “Orgasms and Empowerment,” Astrid Henry discusses Sex and the City, a late ’90’s sitcom that follows the lives and sexual narratives of four female friends. She states that it is is a progressive show because it promotes feminist views of choice and sexual freedom. Though the show focuses on four women, it never centers on cattiness or competition, but instead on support and female laughter. The four characters are all different, some more sexually experienced and curious, some valuing more traditional female roles. The key is that they all accept and support each other in these choices. For example, Samantha enjoys one night stands, exciting experiments, and doesn’t want to marry. Her pleasure comes from her freedom and her friends all live vicariously through her stories, even if they don’t wish to have the same experiences. They promote her experimentation as healthy and normal. On the other side. there’s Charlotte, who values traditional romantic love and would love to be a housewife. Her friends, although more liberal, never judge her for her personal choice. This example of third wave feminism, or choice feminism, allows Sex and the City to show that everyone’s beliefs are respectable. The show also openly discusses female sexual pleasure and masturbation as a right, both of which have often been viewed as taboo topics. In these ways, the show brought real female experiences to light in a manner that made them accessible and normal.
ReplyDeleteHowever, while Sex and the City promoted female experimentation and sexual liberation, it frowned upon the same experiences for men. Both Carrie and Charlotte openly deny male bisexuality and the show upholds the idea that metrosexual and bisexual men can’t be masculine. This ignores that sexuality is a spectrum for everyone, and limits the gender roles for men while resisting the idea that there are alternative forms of masculinity. The show focuses only on heterosexuality. Another problem in its representation of women is that the four main characters are thin, conventionally attractive white women who supposedly represent the entire gender. While their experiences are valuable, some of the topics Sex and the City ignore are important and also devalue the show’s progressive stance by being ignored.
Kali H.
Sex and the City has been better than most television shows at portraying the female experience. However, this does not always outweigh the ways in which it can be problematic at times.
ReplyDeleteThe ways in which Sex in the City has been progressive, includes fantastic portrayal of female friendship, marriage, career, and sexuality. The show makes a point of portraying the friendship between Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha as funny, supportive, and loving. Most of all, it does not always center on men or romance. The four friends support each other through abortion, cancer, career decisions, and more. Not all of the women intend to marry either. Samantha decides she never wants to marry, while Miranda decides to have a child before marrying. All the women discuss their sex lives with a lot of detail together, with issues concerning masturbation, the female orgasm, and more becoming central to the plot.
The main areas that need further consideration have to do with representation of bisexuality, diversity in the cast, and the privilege of the main characters. In general, bisexuality is not represented correctly throughout the show, especially in regards to male bisexuality. At one point, Carrie is dating a bisexual man and Carrie and most of her friends treat his sexuality like “phase”. Miranda even goes as far as to say that he needs to pick between either being gay or straight. As far as the cast is concerned, there is very little diversity. All four of the main characters are white, straight, cisgender, middle/upper class women, and the plot barely ever touches upon issues such as race and class. Furthermore, all of their struggles concerning class or money are portrayed as frivolous, like when Carrie spends too much money on shoes. Furthermore, they are all in positions of privilege where they are able to have posh jobs at art museums, as lawyers, or as writers.
While Sex and the City has made strides in portraying women more accurately, at the end of the day it isn’t perfect (like most popular culture products).
Claire C.
Astrid Henry writes in one of her chapters, Orgasms and empowerment: Sex and the City and the third wave feminism, about the progressive and remiss aspects of Sex and the City in relation to feminism. The premise of the beloved TV show revolves around the close friendship between four unique women: Charlotte, Miranda, Samantha, and Carrie. It portrays these women going about their lives and how they deal with different situations from boyfriends and husbands to professional issues. They would always meet once a week to discuss their quandaries over food. Portraying women as friends who support each other instead of as competitors who trash one another was a progressive part of Sex and the City. Moreover, each of these women brought a different perspective to each dilemma within modern life, which lets the viewer see that there isn’t just one school of thought. This combats the idea that there is only one congruent school of thought in feminism. All the women have been influenced by the movement, yet each of them offer a different solution to any one problem. Despite their sometimes-conflicting views, they all come together to support each other’s choices and act as each other’s family and community. However, the focus on individual choice detracts from the larger, political movement. The fact these women have the leisure time to discuss their sex lives to the extent that they do, is a privilege of their class and race. The show displays four white, wealthy, career women who demonstrate an economically, racially, and sexually privileged version of what feminism is. This version of feminism has come to represent to a lot of people the movement as a whole. But feminism is very intersectional and crosses over race and class, and this neglect to recognize that is very much like third wave feminism. In some ways Sex and the City was progressive, but in others it excluded important parts of feminism.
ReplyDeleteEllen N.
DeleteIn “Orgasms and empowerment: Sex and the City and the third wave feminism,” Astrid Henry analyzes Sex and the City and points out how the show reflects third wave feminist ideas. She explains that, unlike traditional TV sitcoms, Sex and the City focuses on the relationship between the four female main characters and often depicts this relationship as being more important that sexual or romantic love. In addition to this, while the four do talk about their various problems with men, they never fight over these men as is usually the case with women on TV. This puts this focus of the show solely on these women as opposed to the men they interact with.
ReplyDeleteOne of the major ways Sex and the City is considered progressive is in its portrayal of female sexuality. The characters are never chastised or depicted as ‘fallen’ women after any of their sexual encounters. In fact, the show puts immense importance on female sexual pleasure. In one episode, Samantha proclaims that she “lost her orgasm” prompting a discussion on how it is within the rights of a woman to demand an orgasm during sex. In another episode, Miranda breaks up with her significant other solely because her cannot make her come.
Although this show was very progressive, there were still areas that could have been improved. For one, the main characters are all “white, heterosexual, thin, conventionally attractive, and importantly, economically well off.” This means these women could “define liberation exclusively in terms of sexual freedom.” Unfortunately this type of liberation is unobtainable to a number of people including those of color and those who are from a lower class. Also, while Sex and the City promotes female sexuality including their right to ‘experiment’, the show is less forgiving on the male characters. When Samantha starts dating Maria, the other women are more surprised that she is in a relationship in general, let alone a relationship with a woman. Overall they are supportive of her. However, when Carrie finds out that she is dating a bisexual man, the discussion turns to the idea that he should “pick a side and stay there.” The message is women’s sexuality is fluid, but men’s must be constant.
-Megan R.