The late HBO series Sex and the City centered around four professional, single women living in New York City. The show focused mainly on the women’s personal lives, their dating and sexual adventures. Critiques regarded the series as both progressively portraying women as well as promoting negative female stereotypes. The series questioned notions of proper female gender roles and sexual behaviors. The women in the series are all successful, working professionals. What I will be looking at in this paper is how these particular women are portrayed, and why they are portrayed this way. Despite drastic differences between the four women, all place a strong value on appearance and beauty. Additionally, there is a shared casual treatment of sex. The show is notable for the discussions and support for single women having casual sex. The topic in focus in this paper is consumption, one of the major themes of the show. The relationship to consumption and commodities is the specific aspect of these women that I have chosen to focus on. I will analyze the series as well as incorporate arguments made by scholars regarding Sex and the City.
The women all share independent, strong personalities with little need from men. Relationships with men are pursued but always seem to fail for one reason or the other. This clear theme leads to the suggestion that the men are not necessary for the happiness and well being of women. Personal success and financial empowerment obtained with single status indicate that men are not necessary for women's happiness. The casual sexual encounters and relationships suggest that the series is not meant to attack men, but rather celebrate the abilities of single women.
Several episodes incorporate the importance of fashion and commodities to the lives of the four women. Carrie for example, has an almost fetish-like obsession with shoes that is repeatedly emphasized. Handbags, clothing, and makeup are always of utmost importance. The compulsion to shop is often tied to an unhappy relationship. The main theme that I am looking at is this apparent need for consumption. Several critiques of the series have explained the connection to material commodities as necessary to success as well as a substitution for men and sex. This attitude is most clearly argued by Jane Arthurs in her piece entitled: Sex and the City and Consumer Culture: Remediating Postfeminist Drama. Arthurs explains that “The programme’s representation of the women’s dissatisfaction with their male lovers could be regarded as encouraging a rejection of men as a source of emotional and sexual satisfaction in favour of a feminine culture of gossip and shopping.” In this argument is labeling of behaviors as characteristic of a certain group. Referring to gossip and shopping as parts of feminine culture imply a solidarity in the behaviors of women, as if innate. The main point that Arthurs has tried to make is that women often turn to consumption as a means for fulfillment.
The article by Jane Arthurs goes into great depth analyzing material culture portrayed in the series. It is evident in her article that there are many different ways to view the series and its profound impact. I will be analyzing several episodes of Sex and the City and using evidence from Jane Arthurs article to argue my point. Some of the arguments that Arthurs makes I do not necessarily agree with, and these will be a focus of my discourse.
Focusing on the narrator and main character Carrie Bradshaw, we see how important consumption is in her life. Carrie’s unending desire for more suggests that consumption and shopping are natural parts of women’s identities. This generalization is evidence in all characters of the show to varying extents. Viewing several episodes makes it clear that consumption is meant to be seen as an essential aspect of women's lives. Whether or not this is a requirement of all women is left to interpretation. The exaggerated behaviors of the characters suggest that they are simply playing out stereotypical roles for the amusement of the audience.
