Comments on: ‘Sex and the City’ and Feminism http://britisshameless.com/2010/01/sex-and-the-city-and-feminism/ I'm nothing but a brash and impetuous girl striving to be true to myself while searching for somewhere to belong, someone to love, and a better version of me. Sat, 11 Dec 2010 07:29:26 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jess http://britisshameless.com/2010/01/sex-and-the-city-and-feminism/comment-page-1/#comment-6618 Jess Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:08:45 +0000 http://britisshameless.com/?p=1059#comment-6618 Alana said everything I was thinking, but better :)<br />on a semi related note, Im not sure I understand why Miranda being upset that she might not have been able to conceive negates her being a feminist. Not that this is what you're saying here Brit, but I've heard from others before that motherhood and feminism don't mix. I disagree. As long as a woman is making the choice to have a baby, and not pushed into it by someone else, it seems pretty clear cut to me. Isn't feminism about women being able to make their own choices and not conforming to ideals - whether they be traditional or otherwise? Alana said everything I was thinking, but better :)
on a semi related note, Im not sure I understand why Miranda being upset that she might not have been able to conceive negates her being a feminist. Not that this is what you're saying here Brit, but I've heard from others before that motherhood and feminism don't mix. I disagree. As long as a woman is making the choice to have a baby, and not pushed into it by someone else, it seems pretty clear cut to me. Isn't feminism about women being able to make their own choices and not conforming to ideals – whether they be traditional or otherwise?

]]> By: alana http://britisshameless.com/2010/01/sex-and-the-city-and-feminism/comment-page-1/#comment-6616 alana Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:08:04 +0000 http://britisshameless.com/?p=1059#comment-6616 That’s exactly what I was thinking when I typed my comment actually. The fact that we even have to look to this show says a lot about our culture I think. <br /><br />It just makes me uncomfortable because sometimes it seems like people use the guise of “is this really feminist” in order to vent and as a way of being judgmental towards other women’s choices. That’s not what you’re doing here, but I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. That’s exactly what I was thinking when I typed my comment actually. The fact that we even have to look to this show says a lot about our culture I think.

It just makes me uncomfortable because sometimes it seems like people use the guise of “is this really feminist” in order to vent and as a way of being judgmental towards other women’s choices. That’s not what you’re doing here, but I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.

]]> By: Britni TheVadgeWig http://britisshameless.com/2010/01/sex-and-the-city-and-feminism/comment-page-1/#comment-6614 Britni TheVadgeWig Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:45:32 +0000 http://britisshameless.com/?p=1059#comment-6614 Jill and Alana, I don't think that you can't be a feminist and like material items, or obsess over men. Lord knows I do both.<br /><br />And there *are* great things about the show, and there are feminist things about the show. I just don't think that touting the show, or Carrie herself, as feminist is accurate. None of the characters ever identified as feminist, and really, there are a lot of NON-feminist things about it.<br /><br />I don't disagree with either of your points, I just don't think the show itself is blatantly feminist, nor is it really a good example of feminism. Unfortunately, though, there aren't really any better examples out there. Which says a lot. Jill and Alana, I don't think that you can't be a feminist and like material items, or obsess over men. Lord knows I do both.

And there *are* great things about the show, and there are feminist things about the show. I just don't think that touting the show, or Carrie herself, as feminist is accurate. None of the characters ever identified as feminist, and really, there are a lot of NON-feminist things about it.

I don't disagree with either of your points, I just don't think the show itself is blatantly feminist, nor is it really a good example of feminism. Unfortunately, though, there aren't really any better examples out there. Which says a lot.

]]> By: alana http://britisshameless.com/2010/01/sex-and-the-city-and-feminism/comment-page-1/#comment-6613 alana Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:16:16 +0000 http://britisshameless.com/?p=1059#comment-6613 I don’t know. I definitely think there are better role models out there but I have a hard time being so dismissive of Carrie and SATC. I mean, do you consider yourself less of a feminist because of all that shit that happened a while back with that douche bag? I think this show is a good example of how consumerism is often depicted as empowerment, but I’m with Jill on this one.<br /><br />And I don’t even like SATC. I don’t know. I definitely think there are better role models out there but I have a hard time being so dismissive of Carrie and SATC. I mean, do you consider yourself less of a feminist because of all that shit that happened a while back with that douche bag? I think this show is a good example of how consumerism is often depicted as empowerment, but I’m with Jill on this one.

And I don’t even like SATC.

]]> By: moresexchocolateandredlipstick http://britisshameless.com/2010/01/sex-and-the-city-and-feminism/comment-page-1/#comment-6611 moresexchocolateandredlipstick Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:59:16 +0000 http://britisshameless.com/?p=1059#comment-6611 I am so there. So many people tell me that they expect me to like Sex and the City because I'm girly and I like rom-coms. I actually can't stand it, they're just whining most of the time. And obviously they do tap into many of young women's concerns, but it just annoys me. I hate all this 'which SATC girl are you?' - we're not all like that! <br /><br />---Amy xxxx I am so there. So many people tell me that they expect me to like Sex and the City because I'm girly and I like rom-coms. I actually can't stand it, they're just whining most of the time. And obviously they do tap into many of young women's concerns, but it just annoys me. I hate all this 'which SATC girl are you?' – we're not all like that!

—Amy xxxx

]]> By: Welcome to Chicago, Jillinois http://britisshameless.com/2010/01/sex-and-the-city-and-feminism/comment-page-1/#comment-6610 Welcome to Chicago, Jillinois Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:44:27 +0000 http://britisshameless.com/?p=1059#comment-6610 I disagree. I think you still can be a feminist and still whine and naval gaze, want stuff, still want a man, still want a man to buy you stuff. All of these women on the show do what they want. They support themselves, they are educated and have well-rounded lives. There's nothing wrong with wanting stuff nor wanting a man. There's nothing inherently anti-feminist about that. <br /><br />Don't you think many people could read your blog and say, "Well this character Britni isn't a feminist. She naval-gazes on a blog and eats out of a dog bowl at the feet of a man who literally keeps her on a leash and who buys her presents of clothes and shoes, etc?" <br /><br />If someone said that, of course I'd say yeah, but so what? It's what she likes. And she's doing what she likes as a free, equal, educated woman, and THAT makes her a feminist. <br /><br />We all could be characters on SitC, really. But we all are feminists, too. I disagree. I think you still can be a feminist and still whine and naval gaze, want stuff, still want a man, still want a man to buy you stuff. All of these women on the show do what they want. They support themselves, they are educated and have well-rounded lives. There's nothing wrong with wanting stuff nor wanting a man. There's nothing inherently anti-feminist about that.

Don't you think many people could read your blog and say, "Well this character Britni isn't a feminist. She naval-gazes on a blog and eats out of a dog bowl at the feet of a man who literally keeps her on a leash and who buys her presents of clothes and shoes, etc?"

If someone said that, of course I'd say yeah, but so what? It's what she likes. And she's doing what she likes as a free, equal, educated woman, and THAT makes her a feminist.

We all could be characters on SitC, really. But we all are feminists, too.

]]> By: Sa http://britisshameless.com/2010/01/sex-and-the-city-and-feminism/comment-page-1/#comment-6609 Sa Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:13:10 +0000 http://britisshameless.com/?p=1059#comment-6609 I have a love-hate relationship with that show. To me the most positive element was how female friendship was shown as a relationship just as valuable as marriage. Throughout the series, the four women were always each other's "soulmates" and the men were more on the side. <br /><br />This being said, I hate that Carrie is touted as a feminist icon. First of all, she was so judgemental of her friends' choices. Samantha was often an object of mockery. Even Charlotte, the so-called "prude", was less judgemental than Carrie. <br /><br />Miranda was also the only one I could relate to. Cynthia Nixon is a wonderful actress and I enjoyed many of the story arcs. (single motherhood, sex after having a baby etc.) <br /><br />To me the most obnoxious moment in the series was when Carrie had to buy back her apartment from Aidan after breaking off their engagement. She goes to Big to ask for money, she gets mad at Charlotte for not offering to give it to her. It was her choice to spend all her money on clothes and she never took responsability for her own behaviour. <br /><br />Sorry for the long comment! I have a love-hate relationship with that show. To me the most positive element was how female friendship was shown as a relationship just as valuable as marriage. Throughout the series, the four women were always each other's "soulmates" and the men were more on the side.

This being said, I hate that Carrie is touted as a feminist icon. First of all, she was so judgemental of her friends' choices. Samantha was often an object of mockery. Even Charlotte, the so-called "prude", was less judgemental than Carrie.

Miranda was also the only one I could relate to. Cynthia Nixon is a wonderful actress and I enjoyed many of the story arcs. (single motherhood, sex after having a baby etc.)

To me the most obnoxious moment in the series was when Carrie had to buy back her apartment from Aidan after breaking off their engagement. She goes to Big to ask for money, she gets mad at Charlotte for not offering to give it to her. It was her choice to spend all her money on clothes and she never took responsability for her own behaviour.

Sorry for the long comment!

]]>