Gender Roles Reverse in \"Sex

Gender Roles Reverse in "Sex and the City"

Throughout television history, the female role has consistently been degraded into a shallow character completely devoid of power. Within the context of a more sexually liberal society, for both male and female, shows like HBO's "Sex and City" have strived to break the common conventions of characters divided by society's gender roles. While other programs on television today like VH1's reality hit "Flavor of Love" and sitcom's friendliest gangsters in "The Sopranos" continue to portray women as either insignificant objects or background characters; "Sex and the City" aims to reverse the feminine degradation onto their male counterparts. The disposable quality of the male characters on the show completely rearrange the typical stereotypes and cast men in the sex object roles which are normally assigned to woman. In a day where there is still discrimination based on gender in the real world, "Sex and the City" becomes the modern working woman's fantasy; the insignificant male roles now bare the brunt of gender discrimination.

The male characters take the back stage as the female characters of the show empower themselves through sexual and financial freedom. Carrie Bradshaw, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte become the real woman's fantasy. They are independent, strong, as well as freely promiscuous. Like the womanizing male counterparts of their fellow television medium, these four women are free with their sexuality as well as their emotions. They live fantasy lives which many critics consider superficial, but this fantasy ads to the fascination of the targeted demographic. Those who followed the show through all its drama must have wished to be one of the four friends at one time or another. To add to the fantasy, the female characters completely overshadow their male counterparts.

This unusually strong female presence creates an insignificant role for any male characters. There are no main male characters, and most on the show are only involved via one of the four female friends. Without an intimate connection to one of these women, the male characters completely fall into obscurity. These male characters are replaceable, and are treated much like many other shows treat female characters. Their insignificance contributes to the overall female fantasy which governs the show's writing and production.