Wednesday, May 13, 2009

SATC Is Not That Great of a Show: Point/Counterpoint Showdown*

Counterpoint:

Samantha uses the fact that she's highly sexual as a form of privilege to manipulate other people, especially other women. Example: She sees her sexuality as enabling her to understand and communicate with (read: talk down to) transsexual sex workers (all of whom are portrayed as black) "in their own language." She acts friendly, if a trifling condescending, to them in person, then completely disrepects them in conversation with the other SATC ladies (all of whom are white and upper middle-class). This makes for a show with trans politics that are insulting at best, racist and classist at worst. Should Samantha's empowerment come at the cost of others'?

*Please note that I do not hate Sex and the City. I have seen every episode and the movie and find them basically entertaining, but still problematic.

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