The media influences how individuals perceive themselves and the world at large. The different types of media include movies, radio, and television shows. The media influence people either consciously or unconsciously regarding how they should view and interact with the male and the female gender. This essay examines gender representation in movies by looking at the portrayal of characters in Sex, and City season 1 and 2. The results reveal that male subordination is evident in today’s films and following the notion of social constructivism such images of gender representation are affecting the perception of viewers on what a woman or a man is.
Terms Used
Social constructivism is the idea that concepts, definitions, social order, and what is the right or wrong change from time to time as meaning are created through interactions and relationships between people (Popa et al. 1103).
Representation of gender in the media is the use of language to depict men and women differently and in a way that conforms existing statements about gender and proper rules of talking about gender (Scharrer 442).
Gender traits and gender stereotypes are socially constructed and generalized beliefs about what it means to be a man or a woman (Popa et al. 1102). A gendered film depicts women as having acceptable feminine traits such as submissive, physically weak, dependent, nurturing, follower, physically attractive, accepting advice, and ashamed, while men are physically strong, give advice, with a higher economic status, perpetrator, problem solver, leader and independent.
Representation of Female Characters
Analysis of the personalities of men and women as depicted in Sex and City 1 and 2 is instrumental in understanding how language is applied to create different representations of men and women. Carrie is the central character that falls in love with Mr. Big after coming to New York to look to big love. Another character, Charlotte, is depicted as a woman who is on the lookout for a perfect husband and family. She is also shamed for openly talking about sex. The third woman, Miranda, struggles with maintaining balance motherhood, wife, and having a successful career. Another character, Samantha, is depicted as a woman who doesn’t care about how other people perceive her and doesn’t shy away from having open discussions about sex. However, she is concerned about looking young, and despite being successful, she can do anything to keep her youth.
Overall, women in Sex and City 1 and 2 are represented to have an obsession with their physical appearance. They work extremely hard to look beautiful by applying makeup, wearing styled clothes, and having styled hair. Also, women in the movie are portrayed to be always on the search for husbands or boyfriends to fulfill their love life. the portrayal is informed by the stereotype of women as dependent on men.
Representation of Male Characters
Mr big is described as a very rich man who remains in a relationship with Carrie for about ten years. The masculinity traits of men as being more financially stable and problem solvers are evident in how Mr. Big buys Carrie expensive clothes and help her in finding solutions to her problems. Another character, Steve, the husband to Miranda, is very much bothered my Miranda being too focused on her work instead of concentrating on her role as mother and wife. A third character, Harry, is a perfect husband for Charlotte as he is economically stable, independent, and ambitious and financially takes care of her and their daughter. The fourth man, Samantha’s boyfriend, Smith, receives a lot of support from Samantha. Smith is always at work and has little time for Samantha, which annoys her and makes her feel trapped.
Overall, all the male characters are represented as independent and having a strong economic status. It is apparent to a large extent that female characters depend on the male characters emotionally, physically, and even economically. The male characters also wear male clothes to emphasize their masculinity (Scharrer 442). Vitally, the males in the movie receive support from their women, and they are not concerned with looking attractive and young as the women. Steve is the only male character who depicts feminine traits of having emotions.
Impact of the Message on Creating, Maintain, or Changing Understandings of Gender
The gender-specific features explored in the movie reinforce the existing gender system about what a woman and a man are and serve as examples of how men and women should behave while relating to each other. For instance, women are represented as working towards attaining the highest level of beauty, and such reinforces the socially constructed view that physical appearance is critical for women. Again, Sex and the City also create understandings about how modern women should behave. Despite being an independent woman, Samantha does not challenge the gender power structure in some aspects. For instance, she still depends on a man for love and even supports Smith in his career. The movie shows that the modern woman though economically independent should still uphold the traditional female traits of being supportive to men, dependent and emotional, and should feel ashamed if their relationships do not work. To some extent, the film challenge existing stereotypes by portraying women as financially independent and Samantha as taking control of her sexuality. The depiction of Steve as having feminine traits of having emotions shows that men as well can be feminine.
Possibilities from the Findings and their Meaning
Although the movie depicts women as having some similar characteristics with men such as being employed and financially independent, men are still represented as the subordinate gender. Despite the progress on an international level regarding the acceptance of women’s rights, the same is not presented in its full potential in the movie, Sex and the City 1 and 2. It means that gender roles that viewers are presented with on a daily basis are lagging behind in showing improved images of gender equality.
Works Cited
Michael., Parker, Jessica., Star, Darren & Melfi, John. Sex and City: The Movie. 2008. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9WsB8AYn1M
Michael., Parker, Jessica., Star, Darren & Melfi, John. Sex and the City 2. New line, 2010.
Popa, Dorin & Delia Gavriliu. “Gender Representations and Digital Media’’. Social and Behavioral Sciences, 180, 2015, pp. 1199-1206.
Scharrer, Erica. “Representations of Gender in the Media.” Handbook of Research in the Social Foundations of Education, 2013, pp. 436- 445.
Hello Kulah,
Sex and The city is one of my favorites shows as it portrayed how women in New York city thrive for independence and use fashion to express themselves.
you mentioned that the series ” the portrayal is informed by the stereotype of women as dependent on men.” I’m not sure if I can agree on that.
Yes, Carrie, Amanda, Samantha , and Miranda were all looking for love in the big city but they were financially stable. They have the freedom and not forced to do so or follow social norms.
Overall, you are doing what you need to do throughout this paper. The writing could be tighter and clearer, and you should really do a good edit. Instead of the headings you use to signal you are moving to a new thought, write transition statements that connect the ideas. The body of the essay is getting there.
The first paragraph – we don’t need that much about general media. You could condense it all, and more clearly state what you are doing by rephrasing it like this: “The media influences how individuals perceive gender, both consciously and unconsciously. This essay examines gender representation in the television show Sex and City, seasons one and two. In my analysis, I show that male subordination is evident in this show and using theories of social constructivism, gender representation, and gender traits and stereotypes.”
I want t0 point out that while that rephrasing is clearer, I left in your phrasing “I show that male subordination is evident in this show…” I do not think that is what you are doing in this essay. I think you are doing something else that is more interesting.
Next, you list terms. I am pleased you define them but 1.) Please use definitions from our course readings and 2.) Weave these terms into the narrative form you use throughout the rest of the paper.
Also, I want your voice – so please feel free to use “I” and tell us why you are interested in this particular artifact. It seems like you are writing to try to sound scholarly, but in doing that your sentences aren’t clear. Your descriptions of the characters are clear because that is your voice.
Sometimes you use the word “movie” when you mean “television show.”
Hello Kulah Massaquoi, i didn’t have a chance to watch sex in the city because i was underage and because of the name “sex in the city” my mother didn’t let me watch it. But i am really satisfied with the summary of the show. this is not the only show that portrayed women are at a lower level, i thinks gossip girl did the same and Desperate Housewives.
Hi Kulah, you did an amazing job in explaining your concepts and connecting them with the show. I wonder if this bias portrayed (traditional gender roles) is actually from the producers or it was instead done intentional to tell us something about our society today
Hi Kulah, I love how you presented subtitles for each section and how you were able to connect the symbols such as clothing showcase masculine and feminine demeanor. I also like how you highlighted the when mentioned about how a woman can be independent but somehow incomplete without a man in her life. I never really paid attention to this narrative until now, thanks!
Hello Kulah,
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. Your paper was well written and the concepts were displayed very well with the examples provided. I never really watched the show “Sex and the City” but from your evaluation gave me a brief understanding, I always knew the show was about 4 friends seeking to find the love of their life or male attention and how white high-class women are portrayed. thank you, well done 🙂
Hello Kulah
Thank you for sharing. I never got to watch Sex and the city but based on your draft I can get a clear understanding of what is going on. The concepts you are using are well explained and the example and the connections to the show are great. It is great to see how the show portrays independent women who don’t necessarily need a man to be financially stable or living great but they want someone to love. Overall I think you did great.
Hello Kulah,
Great draft! Your concepts deeply connect with your points regarding this artifact. Sex and the City is one of my favorite shows, and I think this was a great artifact to use. Since this is a paper, maybe you can use transition words instead of subtitles. But as I mentioned, great draft!
Hi Kulah, I enjoyed reading paper. I agree that the show tried to show independent women who were self sufficient but also portrayed the stereotypes that are wrong with today’s society.