These 'SATC' Quotes Are So Anti-Feminist

So listen, I know you love Sex and the City, and I love Sex and the City, and my roommate Emily loves Sex and the City. It is totally fine and natural to cycle through the series at least six times before you hit 24, and currently me and Em are on our seventh time. However, after enough rewatches, you start to realize how Sex and the City is hilariously outdated... and in more cutting ways than wearing last season's Manolos. No, if you squint real hard you'll see that Carrie Bradshaw and friends have a few problematic views on womanhood.

This is probably because at the time it came out in the late '90s, Sex and the City read more like a postmodern, postfeminist piece than something that would boldly co-opt the feminist label. The framing showed four women in a places of economic and social power in most subjects areas, except for, well, making relationships work. I mean, sometimes you'd get a plot line about Miranda not getting a promotion or Samantha not getting a job because they were women, but that's about it. The point is, along the way there was a lot of working out what it meant to be a woman, and some of the concepts maybe need to be retired in this new millennium.

But we'll circle back to that later. Let's look at some side-eye-worthy quotes.

1. "You Think I'm One Of Those Women! One Of Those We Hate, Who Just Works Till She Gets Married." -Charlotte

Oh, those women. Charlotte and Miranda's cold war over Charlotte deciding to leave her job is a whole landmine of weirdness. Charlotte senses Miranda's judgement, and asserts, "The women's movement is supposed to be about choice. If I choose to quit my job, that is my choice." That's a bold use of "the women's movement" in an argument, but it's a fair argument nonetheless. Still, they hate women who work until they get married? That's... a lot of people, and Charlotte is kind of weird for finding herself to be a special snowflake separate from "those women."

2. "I Love How They Say 'Until Recently, The Bride.' Meaning She Quit Her Job Once She Found Her Soulmate/Investment Banker." - Miranda

On that same tangent of thought, Miranda throws this one out when they're reading The New York Times wedding announcements. Lots of cynical those women-ing here.

3. "How Many Men Is Too Many Men?" - Carrie

I mean, if this show taught me anything it's that there's no such thing, let's move on.

4. “Are We Simply Romantically Challenged, Or Are We Sluts?” - Carrie

It's just weird that every once in a while SATC would embrace slut-shaming when everyone, even Charlotte, was getting laid left and right. It's just, are we embracing our sexuality in a positive way, or nah?

5. "Modelizers Are Obsessed Not With Women, But With Models Who In Most Cities Are Safely Confined To Billboards And Magazines. But In Manhattan, Actually Run Wild On The Streets Turning The City Into A Virtual Model Country Safari Where Men Can Pet The Creatures In Their Natural Habitat." - Carrie

I know Carrie is trying to use creative wordplay in here, I get it, I truly do. But the entire subtext of this speech (and really the entire episode on modelizers) is that models aren't real women, they're beautiful creatures to be pet and adored. Do I have to spell out what's icky about that?

6. "Being Single Used To Mean That Nobody Wanted You. Now It Means You’re Pretty Sexy And You’re Taking Your Time Deciding How You Want Your Life To Be And Who You Want To Spend It With." - Carrie

OK, there are worse things than this sentiment, but to break it down, is it... not great that we ever framed being single as "nobody wanting you"? The second half is more positive, I just think that being single now means that you've just become pleasantly comfortable with your Netflix account and you don't need anyone but Kimmy Schmidt.

7. [On Pubic Hair] "I Could Be On Death Row And Not Have That 'Situation!'" - Samantha

This one's from the movie and therefore like less than a decade ago, and I'll admit, it's pretty top tier snark. But ehhhh, pubes-shaming (or body hair-shaming) isn't a great way to be a friend, especially when you're doing it to someone who's like mid-separation. Ya know.

8. "I’m Not Even Sure Bisexuality Exists. I Think It’s Just A Layover On The Way To Gaytown." - Carrie

Oh God, Carrie, stop. Stop. I feel like the only sexuality types considered canon on SATC were strict heterosexuals, sassy gay best friends, and power lesbians. That's not... how real life works. More than that, the grays areas were rejected as some kind of weird fantastical thing, which is not of our time.

9. "This Is So Bad, Nobody Wants To Marry A Whore." - Charlotte

Charlotte, no.

10. "It’s Really Because Women Just Wanna Be Rescued." - Charlotte

Charlotte, no.

11. "It's For You To Make Pies. It's Good For Women To Make Pies." - Magda

Ok, Magda said this one and Miranda thought it was ridiculous, so we're gonna call this a wash.

12. "I Don't Want To Be The Up-The-Butt Girl, Because I Mean... Men Don't Marry Up-The-Butt Girl. Whoever Heard Of Mrs. Up-The-Butt?" - Charlotte

CHARLOTTE. N-o.

13. "Oh please! There are depressed women all over New York doing the exact same thing as her and not calling it art. I mean, if you put a phone up on that platform, it's just a typical Friday night waiting for some guy to call." - Carrie

Eye. Roll.

14. "Is your vagina listed in the New York City guide books? Because it should be — hottest spot in town. Always open." - Charlotte

I have no words left.

So yeah, kids, Sex and the City isn't a perfect shining beacon of feminism. Weird moments of slut-shaming and those women-ing are snuck in there. Still, I think that these moments are important for opening a dialogue, whether it's in the context of the show or the comfort of our living room futons.

Images: HBO; Giphy (11)