4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
The Hidden Meaning of ‘And Just Like That…'
Once upon a time, HBO aired a hit show that spun a brand-new kind of fairy tale, a glittering fantasy of single-lady life in New York City.
The year was 1998. Bill Clinton was president. Donald Trump was a New York City tabloid fixture. Roe v. Wade was the law of the land.
Into this brave new world strode 'Sex and the City,' the story of a quartet of glamorous New York City women who worked and dated, vacationed and shopped, went clubbing and dancing and enjoyed fulfilling casual sex — just like men!
Over the next six seasons, the show offered a message both hopeful and progressive: A woman — or, at least a thin, white, financially privileged woman — could have a rich, fulfilling life, one that didn't necessarily involve a ring and a white picket fence, one where friendships, not romance or marriage, were the relationships that sustained you.
You could, like Charlotte, divorce a man who looked perfect on paper, and then find yourself falling for your crass, hairy-backed, big-hearted divorce lawyer. You could, like Miranda, make partner at your law firm, become a single mother then marry your baby's father and live together in Brooklyn.
You could, like Carrie, find your one true love, or you could, like Samantha, tell your handsome boyfriend that you love him but you love yourself more. You had options of the traditional and nontraditional variety, and they all included designer clothes, gorgeous shoes and great real estate.
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