Women and careers - Essay Example

?Full Understanding Women’s Success and Romanticism Literature is one manner of informing people and making them appreciate and comprehend how others think and understand things in this world. One of the interesting and important matters that have often been recorded throughout history is the subject matter about men and women. Literature does not only show their differences in ideologies but it also reflects the similarities of such ideas among men and women in the past and present times. Today, the interest in the subject is becoming more and more intense as people seek to pursue all the happiness they can have in this world. One movie series that speaks about such especially concerning women is “Sex and the City”. It portrays the lives of four female friends who openly talk about sex and their relationship. It presents the concerns of women that men often ignore and disregard. Moreover, it also pictures how modern women value work and their womanhood in the pursuit of their happiness. The main characters, Carrie Bradshaw played by Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall as Samantha Jones, Kristin Davies as Charlotte York and Cynthia Nixon as Miranda Hobbes, in the movie series mentioned earlier perhaps reflects the modern women’s struggles that they often experience as they express themselves and assert their worth in the world. The four women who are all past the age of thirty try to live normal lives as all the others around them do. They work as professionals and compete with men in their work places but they also struggle with them when it comes to their relationships. They have different ideas about love and sex which portrays the different ideas of modern women. For instance, Miranda is presented as a successful corporate lawyer who worked so hard that she has forgotten all about marriage. In her mid-thirty, she was still unmarried. Jones on the other hand is an executive who tries to act like men do, having sex with them like the relationship is not about feelings and emotions or treating each other as lovers. In the first episode of season 1, the character of Jones is presented as the most liberated among the four friends and perhaps reflects many women in modern times who really think that they are competitive with men not only in terms of profession and achievements but also in terms of sex. If men perceive women as sex objects, she believes that women could also do the same as evidenced by her advice to her friends. She even gives an example about how she goes about her relationships, mentioning Drew, an ex-lover whom she slept with for a time in her past and then left him matter-of-factly, forgetting about him just like when one changes her clothes and disposes them (youtube.com). On the other hand, York plays the romantic kind of character who thinks that sex should be expressed with love. She is quite the emotional kind among the friends and often brings about the other concerns, about the more important matters in the issues being raised among their discussions. In the example given above, she reacts with Bradshaw in clear bewilderment saying that they should consider love and romance also. Perhaps the attitude of women acting like men, thinking that they can be as unemotional when it comes to sex is just a facade to show their competitiveness. Although deep inside, women are hurting because they are treated like objects, they tend not to accept it but rather deny that they are really emotionally affected. In effect, they try to act as the men do and show that they can also hurt men. However, along the process, men are also hurt because they are also human beings who have feelings. Bradshaw verbally expressed her being a human being and asserted that she should be treated as such by her lovers like her long time lover, Big and still another lover, Alexander Petrovsky (youtube.com). Although men never show such concern or verbally express such feelings, they are not devoid of feelings so that they also need such attention. However, probably, what makes things easier for men is that, women are more sensitive to the men’s feelings and tend to overdo expressing their love. Moreover, women are naturally expressive of their feelings so that men do not undergo the same struggles that women experience, having to verbalize what they want and need from their partners. Being in the city represents the modern and liberated thoughts of people. The characters living in the city portray also the professional successes of the women characters. Bradshaw, for instance, is an author writing for a magazine, exploring the thoughts and feelings of people about sex and the city, talking about matters that were once considered taboo. She represents the modern woman who is open-minded in all matters and thinks that feelings and thoughts of people about sex and relationships are important to discuss because there are a lot of people who simply need all the help they could get from people who are going through the same situations. Her job and interests is a repetition of the main themes of the movie series. This emphasizes the importance of the subject on sex and relationships. As her life unfolds in the story, her writings are seen to be a reflection of her own life, having problems with her personal relationships and concerns about her boyfriends. Although so many times, she spoke about not being sure about her beliefs, her ideals are often seen through her actions and decisions. For example, when her boyfriend, Big said that he might relocate to Paris and stay there for seven months to a year, she said that she would like to go with him. However, when her lover asked if she is doing it for herself and not for the man she loved, she was infuriated. Later, she is found crying in the presence of her friends, complaining that Big did not even consider her place in his life (youtube.com, 10:00). This shows that she could actually do anything for the sake of love if she were given the chance. Her job is important to her but she can also make sacrifices if only to make keep her relationship intact. Unfortunately, her lover did not think the same way she did. The man valued his job more than his relationship with the woman who loves him and he certainly wanted the same for Bradshaw to think the same way. Therefore, he encouraged his girlfriend not to go with him but rather stay where her job keeps her. Jones, the executive, is the epitome of the liberated woman. She works as hard as men do and plays as hard as the men also. Career is important to her because it makes her be in a pedestal where she could do all the things she wants, competing with her male counterparts in almost every aspect of her life. Her having a career shows to the modern women how important work is for them because they can be independent and strong. If they ever get into a relationship and then fail to the commitment, they can always easily move on because they do not have to be very dependent on the man concerning sex, comfort and most especially, on their finances. When a woman has a job, which is essential in the city, she can take care of herself and needs in case something happens in a relationship. In contrast to the old-fashioned women, modern women now have the courage to face every challenge that may befall them. They are not like the women before who were always afraid of what they were supposed to do with themselves and their children if the breadwinner leaves them. They are assured that they can always take care of themselves because of the jobs that they have. This then brings to the viewers the message of the importance of having a stable job. Miranda Hobbes portrays similar ideologies with Jones. She thinks that sex should be treated just as an enjoyment and not to be taken seriously. She says that men are selfish and self-centered regardless of status or biological factors that make them up. She is quite cynical about love and romance. She is opposed to the thought that while a woman gets older, she should be thinking about settling. She says that when one gets into her mid-thirties, she would question the thought of getting married (youtube.com). However, she believes in success and being independent. Contrary to Hobbes is her friend Charlotte York who is so hopelessly clinging to romance. She believes that men simply are threatened by successful women so that when a successful woman wants to have a guy, she has to maintain a low profile and make him be the center of attraction. Among the friends, she is the one who does not easily go out with men whom she does not love. She is dedicated to romantic ideas that should fill her life with her partner. When one is young and full of promises for the future, a woman seems to be picky with the men she dates. However, to this woman’s opinion, she says that as women get older, they seem to “get self-selecting to a smaller and smaller growth” (youtube.com, 5:50). This is perhaps true because most women often still hope to get married and have children with the man they love. Therefore, if a woman used to look for successful, good-looking men, she would perhaps disregard the looks or the success of a potential lover if only for her to get settled down and have a happily ever after ending with her love life. Truly, women nowadays are competitive and liberated. They think the way they want to and think without being strongly influenced by other people. They often assert themselves as independent individuals who can be as successful as the men and as invulnerable as their male counterparts. They seek for jobs that are not only inclined to their interests but more so, those which will allow them to compete with men. Women indeed have evolved into strong, assertive individuals who can make a future for themselves and indeed, this is a good and important matter for them because this makes men realize that they are not easy targets of their foolish desires and wants. Their independence makes men appreciate and respect them more. However, it should also be realized that women should still maintain the sweetness that they naturally have in them. It is believed that this quality is what makes them more loveable and strong. Being successful is important but being romantic is equally important especially in this world that is full of hurt and broken people. References “Sex and the City”. Youtube.com, 2011. Web. December 15, 2012. < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZjr5yJe6Y0>. “Sex and the City”. Youtube.com, June, 2012. Web. December 15, 2012. . Read More