Sex Positive Postmodern Feminism in Sex and the City

How does Sex positive Postmodern Feminism, reflected in The Sex and the City contrast
patriarchal undertones?
Research has shown that women have been underrepresented in the media. However
when they have a role in the media, they are most likely to be in stereotypical roles which
identifies with the position and expectation from woman in the society. Roles of women in the
society have undergone rapid transformation however. In the process of emancipation women
are getting new and modified roles as well (Drucker, 2018; Doudaki, 2012). Recent
developments in the scenario of television shows the specific genres of programs like soaps and
teen scene are more gender oriented. These programs are eventually showing less of stereotyping
in their portrayal of men and women. They reveal a more equal treatment of the genders.
Specific gendered audience groups are often the targets of specific programs (Chen, 2013).
Media has significant role in creating and developing social norms. The culture of modern day is
quite a lot shaped by media and its influences. Even when young children are concerned, they are
being pushed into liking or preferring their favorites through advertisements (Reed, 2009).
Television is most influential form of media. In the US almost everyone owns a television at
home. This entails that viewers will select their programs quite carefully (Imre, 2009). Hence
they can decide whether they will support the content on ethical or preferential grounds. The Big
Bang Theory during its earlier sessions portrayed one female lead Penny. But her role was that of
stereotypical female one as expected within our society. She is attractive and generates sexual
tension. However as the show went forward the characters were developed and had more female
characters. Another television show, The Office has five female leads. Films are however less
pervasive because consumers usually are more particular in choosing movies. Earlier research on
gender stereotyping in the media emphasizes upon two levels of gender stereotyping. The first

level addressed the actual presence of men and women in television programs and is referred as
recognition. The second level is about the nature of the representation which may be described as
respect. One cannot conclude in determined manner whether representation of men and women
in the gender targeted channels vary from the patterns of underrepresentation of women and
portrayal of both genders in stereotypical manner. In this paper the TV series Sex and the City is
analyzed through the lens of sex-positive feminism and its components. The events which unfold
also put down the undertones of patriarchy which does not submerge the feminist undertones.
Gender roles in Sex and the City
This T.V series describes the different perspective about gender and in which manner it
affects. Description of specific gender is done by different characters in this T.V. series. Each
character is different and represents different personality. All the male and female characters
want different – different things from their life. Some wants love but some wants sex; some
wants perfect family along with happiness but some wants family along with professional life.
Priorities of each character are not same. For further analysis, the paper analyzes each character
in single and in couple too. Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha, these four friends came to
New York to find love and label. Carrie became a writer and found love, Mr. Big. They got
married after so many ups and downs in their life. Carrie wants love and label equally. Charlotte
wants a perfect family picture; in this picture she sees a perfect loving husband, kids and
happiness (Gerhard, 2005). Charlotte wants perfect love. Miranda is a quite professional woman
who struggles between a perfect wife and a perfect mother. Somehow she always finds a way.
Miranda wants a perfect relationship between her job and family. Samantha she is different from
other three. For her sex is the only to express love. She loves to do lots of sex; all work or talks

of Samantha somehow concluded with sex only. She is brave enough to take challenges and
never regret after making any decision. She wants her independency and sex.
Mr. Big Carrie’s long time boyfriend and her husband love her very much, but somehow
he did not know to express love. He works in real estate and much richer than Carrie. Steve,
Miranda’s husband loves his wife and son very much. In this T.V. Steve character is always
struggling to get some love from Miranda. He is bothered by her professional carrier. Harry,
Charlotte’s husband is a simple loving husband and father. He take care his wife and his two
daughters financially and emotionally. Smith is Samantha’s love and her boyfriend. He loves
Samantha very much but still he is always busy with his work. Samantha always tries to find a
way to make love with him. Relationship of Carrie and Mr. Big has so many ups and down. Mr.
Big remains Carrie’s boyfriend for 10 years. After this, long time they eventually got married in
the way, in which Mr. Big wants. Carrie is independent and writer, but in some ways she
depends on Mr. Big. When they decided to live together then Mr. Big was the one who decide
the apartment. He was the one who is paying for apartment. During discussion of this decision
with her friends Carrie was advised by Miranda to not to sold her old apartment because legally
owner of apartment is Mr. Big. Wedding plan decided by Carrie is not the way in which Mr. Big
wants, at the end they got married in a City Hall in way that Mr. Big wants. Relationship of
Charlotte and Harry relationship depicts the picture of a happy family. Charlotte is a wife who
always concern about her husband and her daughters. She is very emotionally and got worried
easily by factors which affect her happy married life. Harry is perfect husband who take of his
family finically and emotionally. Charlotte is traditional woman and she is dependent on her
husband. Relationship of Miranda and Steve somehow depicts a professional love relationship.
She is independent woman who is always struggling between her family and job. Miranda is a

quite serious about her ambitions instead of love life. Sometimes, sex and love is just a job for
Miranda and she wants to get over with it. On the other hand her husband, Steve loves her so
much. He wants to spend time with her, but Miranda never considers his feelings which results in
cheating done by Steve with other women. Miranda is stern and blank and considers her job over
love.
Samantha and Smith are in long term relationship. Samantha supports Smith in his
carrier. Samantha is completely different from other three. She is always ready for sex. Her all
deeds are concluded with sex only. Sex is only expression for her to express love. She is in love
with Smith but being in relationship she never wants to lose her freedom. She remains to be
independent; she never wants that man fulfill her demands. There is a scene in this series where
Samantha wanted to buy a ring for herself from an auction, but Smith bought that ring for her.
During accepting that ring, Samantha clearly said that this is a ring with diamonds not a diamond
ring, which clearly says that she is not ready for marriage and remains to be independent. She
breaks up with Smith in the end because she is not ready to lose her freedom. In this T.V. series
women are represented as strong and independent but at some place they are dependent on male
character. Carrie is strong and independent writer and earns great economic status without even
getting married. When she found love in Mr. Big she somehow depends on him because she let
him to make choices for her. At the end they got married in Mr. Big way. She also forgives him
to not to show up on wedding day that she planned. Charlotte is totally depends on his husband.
Her life goal is to have a perfect family and kids and she have both. She is typical traditional
women whose whole life revolved around her family.
In this T.V. series this relationship is the only relationship which does not have any
problem comparing to others. Miranda character depicts that she is crazy about her ambitions