"Sex and the City:" the most glamorous, funny, relatable show of the early 20th century. Although I was not exactly the target audience during the show's run, I have watched every episode more times than I can count. While many can easily write off "Sex and the City" as a simple comedy made to entertain, I think it is more than that. Its characters face many real struggles of the modern woman and the dynamic of their group of friends speaks to every girl out there. The viewer often gains a sense of self-assurance, if fleeting, after watching the confidence with which the women of "Sex and the City" carry themselves.
Most of the storylines of "Sex and the City" revolve around friendship and men. While the show has received criticism for most of its plots being about the ladies' love lives, let's face it: that is a huge problem that faces the modern twenty and thirty-something woman. While Carrie struggles with her on-again, off-again relationship with Mr. Big, Samantha dates casually and Charlotte believes in true love. All of the women have a different approach to the problems that we all face, and these approaches may inspire something in us too. Miranda often faces issues at her job, and Charlotte decides to convert religions once getting married. None of these things are rare situations, and seeing them depicted in these normal women makes the show extremely relatable.
If you and your best friends have never discussed who is the Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda of the group, you should probably stop reading this and go do that. It's usually fairly obvious and you can probably tell by how you and your friends handle certain situations. These four ladies all are so different, yet they complement each other so well. Like most friend groups in real life, they have a heterogeneity that makes them best friends forever. They often have different opinions on things, but are able to make decisions together and help each other no matter the situation. They remain inseparable even when one moves away or years pass, which is how all true friendships should be.
When you watch "Sex and the City," you cannot help but feel a little inspired by the lack of male main characters or the focus on the women's careers and independence. Carrie writes a column about love and, while she dates many men throughout the series, she often writes about the value of being independent. She is proud to be successful on her own, and she spends her own money on shoes simply because they make her feel good. Miranda is a highly-respected lawyer and never lets her relationships get in the way of her work. Samantha is promiscuous and has no shame in that reputation, which is something that many real women may struggle with. Seeing these ladies own their femininity as strong, everyday women is a welcome change in the depiction of women on TV shows, a change that female viewers can greatly benefit from.
