I’m a Carrie.

I’m a Carrie.

By Ollie.

So, I wanted to do another blog about the cultural impact of sex and the city. My TikTok for you page is still run amid with SATC edits. Mostly Carrie, which says a lot. But not just the characters, the romantism of New York and the idea of female friendship. I unironically thing every young person should watch the show in their 20’s. its like this fashionable, quotable guidebook for navigating life and relationships.

Whether you’re a Samantha, a Charlotte or a Miranda. We can all see ourselves in one of if not all of the distinct characters from such an iconic show. In its simplicity it’s a show about friendship. Accepting your friends, warts and all, and embracing them. Having your girls to pick you up when you feel down and always having someone in your corner.

The common theme is that Samantha is the best personality. And what’s not to love about a woman who acts like a guy. Her only concerns are getting fucked and living her life on her own terms. She’s sassy, classy and the innuendos just roll off her tongue. I also think its empowering, her being the oldest of the group, and whilst still ridiculously stunning, leagues ahead of the game and defying limitations of what society thinks a woman can be.

Next in line there’s Miranda. The fiery short haired redhead who is the most on the nose feminist of the bunch. She’s intelligent, successful and very opinionated. She has worked hard for what she’s got, and she will let you know it. Earlier seasons of Miranda are my favourite as she is more of a misandrist and in her prime. But her storyline getting knocked up with the lovely and simple Steve is a good way of grounding her. Miranda defies feminine standards of beauty and is as good a lawyer as she is a lover.

The princess of the show, everyone’s fav Charlotte. She’s innately good, and a pure soul looking for real, fairy tale love. Charlotte never lowers her standards, knows exactly who she is and perfectly plans her dream life. She is one of the few little girls who never grew out of her childhood fantasies and actually found a way to make it happen. With the unexpected marriage to her divorce lawyer and adoption, she had the most unconventionally perfect family.

And finally, my favourite character, and the basis of my essay. Carrie Bradshaw. Easily the most hated, annoying, selfish, vain and self-absorbed girl of which the whole show and universe revolve around. I find it so interesting that in my generation’s resurgence of SATC, the common consensus is that in the era of the girlboss, Carrie does not hold up like she did in the 90’s. She is needy, insecure, the most morally questionable and at many times she’s a mess. But don’t get my cynicism misconstrued, Carrie is the most relatable of the series.

A chain-smoking introspective writer, who spends 40,000 dollars on designer shoes yet can’t afford to pay her rent. Its no secret that Carrie gets a bad rep, and deservedly so. She quite literally breaks up a marriage. Is obsessed with a complete misogynist. And time after time finds herself in the wrong situation. Whilst we’d all love to be reminded of a sexy Samantha, brainy Miranda or sweet Charlotte. Carrie is by far the most 3-dimensional. Her struggles are real, and the way she consistently disrespects herself in the pursuit of love is something every woman and gay person can relate to. Desperate to convince yourself of accepting a love that’s less than you deserve. And rewarding morsels of romantic attention whilst ignoring golden withstanding friendship.

Carrie is gritty, she’s real, she’s unlikeable. Damn it she’s human. Her words in her edits move me and she’s never afraid to be herself. It confounds me how a character like Bridgit Jones is so revered and protected for being equally as chaotic. A fleabag, a Miranda Heart. Just an all-encompassing woman who doesn’t have all the answers and frantically fails time again to discover who she is.

For me at least, Carrie is the most inspiring and a true student of the human experience. She thinks the worst of herself, but she wants the best and often finds herself caught in this purgatory of self-hatred and self-indulgent.

But at the end of the day, she is there for her girls. She looks fabulous and she grabs life by his balls. A total feminist.

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