While I am by and large one of the biggest fans of Sex and the City, I’ve come to a realization.
Sex and the City has the possibility of ruining young women’s lives.
I know, it pains me to even write it. But hear me out.
Carrie spends six seasons and one full-length movie (and another to be released next year) chasing Mr. Big around. Whether or not you agree with her choices, his choices — whatever — she ends up with him.
He marries other women, she cheats on her fiancee with him; he won’t commit, she’ll commit – all in all it spells out disaster.
But, in the long run, she marries him. And why? Because she believes that he’s her true love. The “big” love, the one and only so to speak.
So, basically, the series tells us that while a guy may do terrible things in our relationships such as not give us what we want or need, or may not be good for us in general at times – they very well may be the one.
I understand that the basis of the series is that every woman that watches the show has a piece of all four characters in her. That these four women somehow make up a composite sketch of who we, as modern, independent, single women are. I get that.
But if you’re going to tell me that you have no attachment to a single character, then guess what, Sally? You’re lying to me.
So, while I see that Carrie, the character I see most of myself in, allowing her big love to do whatever he pleases, including leaving her at the alter, I get confused. And I don’t think I’m the only one.
I don’t put a lot of “real-life should turn out like this” stock into this series, so if you think I’m trying to live my life by some Sex and the City code, you’re wrong. But, you’re going to honestly sit here and tell me that you’ve never heard a friend bring up a scene from the show, or even another show such as this, and somehow compare it to what they’re going through – as if to justify their actions or that of their significant other?
I thought so.
There are cues or hints that help women put their lives into perspective. We receive these through television shows, magazines, Web sites or close friends. Throughout these venues, we seek answers that we don’t necessarily have right away, or are too close to the situation to come up with.
So, while Sex and the City is an amazing show, all I have to say to the women who watch it as religiously as do I, is be careful. Pick and choose what you take from the show and place in your love life, if anything.
Because, when that big love comes along, may it doesn’t have to be as dramatic or hard like it is in the movies. Maybe, it can just be as simple as we make it out to be.
Its not at all good comparison. Its not possible to compare these things.
My theory: Carrie actually embodies the other three characters. She’s sexy like Samantha, slightly cynical like Miranda and yet holds out hope for her one true love, like Charlotte. That’s why most women say they’re a ‘Carrie’.
Cool site, love the info.
The part that rubs me the wrong way is that Big’s love letters were emails-too easy. Did he not remember her address? Worse, did he copy and paste?
She let Aiden, the good guy, get away, just like so many of us.
Anyone that basis any part of their life on this program is too stupid to live.
The fact of the matter is that most woman want a guy like Mr. Big – confident and sure of himself. Oh, and has a good amount of money. When a guy treats a woman right she walks all over him. That is why I’m always a little distant from the woman I date. I make sure that I don’t get too emotionally connected, and when it stops working for me I bail. Woman should try this – it’s much better than the Carrie chase around.
So true Lisa.