Posted: May 31, 2008, 04:56 PM by Leslie Grossman
I enjoyed the new film Sex and the City - it was colorful, full of fashion, & silliness - it was entertaining! And that's why we go to the movies isn't it? But now 2 days after seeing it, and after reading an article in the Wall St. Journal about how young teen girls are flocking to it, even though it may have an R rating, I got concerned. And it isn't the R rating that concerns me (though I'm sure that's not good), it's the underlying message that it sends to young girls and women. It's symptomatic of why we women just can't seem to level the playing field in terms of salaries and the highest positions.
The film continues the portrayal of the TV characters, who have barely a touch of reality. Carrie - the writer - now has 3 books, but is still searching for commitment, while she continues to be totally obsessed with fashion and luxury consumerism. Charlotte is finally a mother, with no career, super comfortable on Park Avenue. Samantha moved to LA and represents her lover Smith exclusively raking in $millions from him, her only client - She makes enough money to buy herself a $50,000 ring at Christie's. She has no office, no employees, she simply sits on her deck on the Pacific Ocean fielding telephone calls when she's not shopping European designer shops on Rodeo Drive. Miranda, the lawyer, is never seen working, only being a "witch" to her husband and complaining to the girls over their countless high-priced meals together.
It's a funny film....until I started thinking about the message it could be sending young girls/women. Not only the superficial life these gals live. But did you notice....They have no network of people to help them succeed in their careers... There is no conversation about business challenges, politics, human values, etc. at all. Oh, I know, why would they have that in this film? I agree, but doesn't it get you thinking about the media in general. In fact, these days where in any film or TV show are women ever portrayed realistically in business?
Not since Mary Tyler Moore and Murphy Brown (and they were both TV business women) have women had a shot at looking smart in their job. Now I love Brooke Shields, as an actress and human being, but her character and her friends on Lipstick Jungle are just as ridiculous. Not to mention the sexism that has been displayed by the media toward Senator Hillary Clinton - a real woman, who "dares" to go "all the way" for the Presidency and who actually could inspire young girls to go for the highest leadership positions. Isn't it time the media start sending messages of successful women that girls can aspire to via characterizations in the media?
Maybe I'm missing something. But I'd love to hear what you have to say about this -- Leslie Grossman, cofounder, Women's Leadership Exchange
Posted: June 27, 2008, 12:25 PM by Stephanie
I couldn't disagree more...as a business woman struggling in a male dominated industry and working for my parents, I felt that the film was "Just what I needed" to escape from my everyday realities. The key message in this movie was friendship! And where would we be without our girlfriends to help motivate us, cry with us, and just let us be ourselves?
I had never watched the series, but after seeing the movie, I want to watch every episode. I loved it. They are fun, strong women. Anyone that is stating negative thoughts about this movie should probably learn to relax a little...have a drink or two with your girlfriends (if you have them) and laugh more! Seems that you are reading too much into it...it is a movie....created for our entertainment. Let it entertain you!
Posted: June 23, 2008, 09:08 AM by Vickie Austin
While I empathize with the tone of these posts, and share some of the concerns about the example set by Sex and the City with its focus on fashion and beauty, I believe most of the contributors missed the whole point of this film: women's friendship and the power of forgiveness. Miranda's husband Steve admits to being unfaithful and Miranda cannot forgive him and leaves. Mr. Big is warned by Miranda at the rehearsal dinner to avoid the snares of marriage--(spoiler alert!)--and he is later in deep need of forgiveness from Carrie. And Miranda, who cannot give forgiveness, finds herself in the position of having to ask for forgiveness... an impossible paradox. Even sweet Charlotte, who has practiced her hate-speech for Big, finds herself at his mercy and later lobbies Carrie for forgiveness.
The other aspect that seems to be missing from these "reviews" (some of which were written by people who haven't even seen the film or watched the series!) is the deep friendship between these four women. Together over the years, they have faced breast cancer, infertility, engagements made and broken, infidelity, long-distance separations, childbirth, menopause and even the threats posed by success. These four women personify the depth of women's friendship which I cherish in my own life. We sustain each other through business triumphs and failures, family turmoils and the ever-changing landscape of our souls and our fickle bodies.
With or without our Louis Vuitton handbags, women are supple, virtuous, smart, flawed creatures in need of support and in need of each other. I found Sex and the City to be an inspiring story of mid-career, mid-life women who have achieved well-earned success in both their business and their personal lives. Take away the Manhattan skyline and the designer clothes and you'd still have a storyline worth watching: friends who weather the passage of time and years together.
When my mom, a beautiful 82-year-old widow, had a house fire several years ago, her "girlfriends" (from mid-50s to 80s) threw her a surprise "shower" to replace all she'd lost in the fire. I remember stepping into a private room during the shower and weeping with gratitude for these wonderful women. I also made a mental note: Be kind to your girlfriends along the way. At some point, we may be all we've got.
Posted: June 9, 2008, 11:33 AM by Kay
The movie sounds great for mature adults who understand the difference between movies and reality. Haven't seen the movie but it does not sound like a movie for teens. However, it seems like a call for mothers to make if they are interested, not the movie industry.
Posted: June 3, 2008, 05:49 PM by www.gen-wire.com
As a younger member of this blog exchange (Generation Y), I have to say that I disagree. Regarding a network…it’s always been there! If you’re a fan of the show, other than seeing the men, the sex and beautiful New York, I saw a lawyer, an accomplished writer, a publicist (who has always been a WBO with her PR company) and a socialite! That is a women’s network in itself! I don’t know about you, but if my best friends had media power, legal advice, and a socialite network to boot—I’d be a happy camper!
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