This week as Hillary Clinton wrapped up her historic campaign as the Democratic nominee for president, Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha and Miranda were once again cocooned in their bubble of clothes, closets, and cocktails.

I couldn’t help wondering who they would have supported for president.

During six years of HBO viewing, I never heard these modern women express an opinion about anything that was going on outside their bubble. They never mentioned or referred to anything about politics, travel, community, education, or world affairs. They seemed to lack curiosity about anything other than clothes, shoes, bags and men, specifically, finding ‘the man’ and getting ‘the ring’. Granted, their friendship and support for each other was unwavering as they shared their fears, doubts, blunders and personal triumphs.

Here are four modern women with no visible means of support. Miranda the lawyer who rarely goes to work. Charlotte, whose job is making hubby Harry happy. Samantha with her own brand of public relations. Carrie who writes a weekly column and worries constantly about the money she spends for clothes. Do these women need some financial counseling or psychological help?

Sex in the City is a marketing phenomena. Like Harry Potter, it had creative and clever marketing that hit home with the target audience. Unlike Harry Potter, which beckoned millions of children and adults as new readers, SITC is sending out the same old message to women - look fabulous, shop, dress up, find a man, get a ring, keep your man happy, build walk-in closets and fill them. Life after sexual liberation looks suspiciously like life before except we get to talk dirty and bed whom we wish.

Even Barbie had an astronaut’s outfit in the 1980s. How would I explain these ‘girls’ to a seven-year- old girl who wants to know what she can do when she grows up.

Maybe that’s the point. What do you think?

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 7th, 2008 at 11:00 am. Visit the archives for all blog posts.