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Women's Leadership Exchange - Blog - Sex and the City and Women in Business

Discover Ladies Hesla Index SekvenCnI Soubor

y - 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

Reader Comments

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

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