Supplemental Response #2 (Devin Glenn)

In several ways, the assigned episode of Sex in the City is a prime illustration of postfeminism in its questioning of whether or not feminism has “gone too far” in its search for gender equality. Jess Butler points to this in one of her descriptions of postfeminism, arguing that it “implies that gender equality has been achieved and feminist activism is thus no longer necessary” and “requires… that women ‘be who they want to be’—just as long as it is not a feminist” (44). Postfeminism is specifically framed in the Sex in the City episode in terms of the narrative’s central discussion regarding whether or not “a man has the right to know” when a woman he has slept with decides to get an abortion. But not once is the responsibility of bodily autonomy ever really addressed on both sides. The argument, instead, centers around a woman’s body and fails to take into account that it really should be a man’s responsibility to provide protection as he is not the one saddled with the consequences if protection is not used. The rhetoric in the episode includes lines such as, “It’s his baby too,” and “Seems like the guy gets the shit end of the stick,” aligning with troubling discourses which somehow posit that men are the victims of society’s “extreme pendulum swing” into feminist ideologies.

            Another element of the episode that is highly problematic is how both Miranda and Carrie are blamed (albeit perhaps more subtly) for their partners not wearing condoms. Once again, somehow, men are made out to be the victims. Bulter additionally clarifies that “while previous gender regimes established what women ought not do,” postfeminism encourages individualism and personal choice through consumerist means (45). Samantha’s character is the embodiment of this postfeminist quality. All this is undeniably and problematically a part of Sex in the City, and that’s not even taking into account its issues (which are inextricably tied to postfeminism) revolving around “[promoting] a limited version of femininity,” “[shoring] up heterosexism,” and “[reinstating] whiteness as the standard” (Butler 48).