All For a Man?

When watching the screen, whether it be in the movies, or on television, women seem to have not made a significant amount of progress in regards to the way she is projected. I must admit, I sat for a good 30 minutes scanning through all of my favorite movies and television series, trying to find a female character that was portrayed as a strong, confident and ambitious woman. I thought of movies such as Mona Lisa Smile, The Sound of Music and Sex and the City (the show I watch loyally, partially on the basis that it represents empowered women from a different angle than Second Wave Feminists touched on), but found myself in a huge dilemma, as I could not get past the statement of Betty Friedan, "...the only goal a woman is permitted is the pursuit of a man." (1963:32). Although these two movies and even Sex and the City feature intelligent woman who are defiant to male-dominated society around them and raise many questions within the society of their time, all story lines are based around the pursuit of the man.

Regretfully, I cannot stop thinking about Sex and the City. I believe some of what this show aims at signifying, is vital to the women's movement-- sexual pleasure. As men have openly flaunted and boasted sex, women have been socialized to remain submissive and silent on topic. Sex and the City allows for this discussion of openly talked about sex, and not for procreation! Four women who would be seen as "power women," are portrayed as powerful not only through their careers, but their beauty and ability to be in complete control of their physical lives.

I then have to pause. How much control do these characters on Sex and the City REALLY have? Carrie Bradshaw's entire career is centered around being a columnist about sex. Although this is yes, empowering at times, it also proves false in numerous occasions as she constantly defines herself by the men she is with. The Sex and the City movie concludes the series by having Carrie being left at the alter and her having to sacrifice for the man ('Big') who wants a small, private wedding at a courthouse-- which does not at all reflect Carrie or what she actually wanted. In the end, yes she had the man, but she also sacrificed. And although freedom of sex, career, and personality is allowed, the pursuit of the man is still the end goal and desire.

I have to admit that I had the same thought process with Cosmopolitan Magazine. It seemed empowering to be able to talk about the same "things" for lack of a better word, that men talk about. Cosmo, being centered around sex, may not be empowering at all, but rather a tool to aid patriarchy. I mean how can sex be empowering if it is constantly about satisfying the man's needs!?