A couple of years ago, as per my millennial cousin’s recommendation, I stumbled into the world of ’90s New York City – with its fashion, its fast and fun life and the tight friendships of Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha. From the first episode I was gripped, binging whole seasons of Sex and the City in a day…
In the past couple of months it’s had a resurgence of popularity- I can’t scroll past five TikToks without one of them being about the show! So why do we all want “more, more, more” of Sex and the City? What makes this ’90s classic worthy of worship by another generation?
The fear of aging is a generational anxiety which has been propelled by the media since day one. Fairytale princesses are full of youth and vigour, whereas the evil stepmothers are old, haggard and obsessed with finding a cure to make them look young. The notion of ageing as being terrible and life-limiting is all too prevalent. But then we are introduced to these four women in their late 20s and early 30s, who turn this ageing narrative on its head. These women are full of life. They go to parties, bars, holidays and (even) work and make it seem, quite frankly, more exciting than the assignment-ridden life I have now. They are full of confidence and novel love for life. A few comments on TikTok stuck out to me; “they make me excited to be in my thirties” and “SATC actually made me less anxious about [the] future, like wow there’s life after thirty.” I think for women who were told that their life would end after twenty-five, SATC reassures and comforts us, letting us know that life only gets better and better…
For me, I find the emphasis of female bonds an incredibly special aspect of the show. The women are always there for each other to give advice, comfort or to provide a fun time; most importantly, they do not sideline their friends when they have a male partner. Like the popular Dolly Alderton novel Everything I Know About Love, we are reminded that the most important people in our lives are not necessarily boyfriends but, in fact, the group of girls with whom you are navigating life with. The comment:“This show introduced me to womanhood low-key” truly summarises the essence and impact of the show.
Carrie has a column, Miranda is a lawyer, Samantha is in public relations and Charlotte’s an art dealer. All of these women are independent with great jobs; needless to say they are incredibly motivating. We always need the feminist spirit of strength and self-sufficiency to quell our self-doubts and affirm our value.
Lastly, I would be lying if I didn’t say the aesthetic of living, partying and prancing around New York City in vintage designer clothes is not what initially drew me to the show. I think I came to the show for the glamour but stayed for the moral lessons!
To have a show focussed solely on the independent and fruitful lives of women is something worth appreciating and I urge anyone who has not watched the show to give it a go. You will walk away from it empowered, motivated and grateful for the women around you.
Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash