Television shows often have a cultural impact that goes well beyond a few catchy lines or characters.
Some shows, such as "Seinfeld" and "Friends" can cut deep through the divisions of culture and connect to all groups, becoming all things to all people. "Sex and the City" was one of those shows, and now with all of its successful seasons and two feature film spinoffs behind it, it's easy to see the influence exists. But just what did the show mean to women everywhere? How did it affect the way they dressed, the things they looked for in a man, the expectations they set for their lives and careers in general? Read on and find out: What did the show mean to women? Women were able to tune in and watch "Sex and the City" every Sunday night on HBO. They were able to have a cultural phenomenon all to themselves. They were able to connect with characters that said and did things they wouldn't have previously thought a woman was capable of. They saw with each new episode that a woman could be strong, vulnerable, and the star of her own show, all at the same time. It was a morale booster, a reason to laugh, and the perfect escape from a world that was continually thrusting traditional male gender roles upon them while still forcing them to "act like ladies." Through the "Sex and the City" TV program, women saw just how independent they could be, and they embraced it. How did it affect their fashion? "Sex and the City" celebrated a woman's professionalism and her ability to take care of herself while also emphasizing that it was okay to be sexy and competent. Dress selections on the show emphasized this and spilled over into everyday life. What women looked for in a man? Women, who tuned in to "Sex and the City" got to go through the full gamut of expectations in a man. From the hunter-gatherer type to the so-called "metro-sexual" the show was famous for calling out, women began to see the male-female relationship beyond what they'd come to know in the heyday of television. More importantly, they learned from watching "Sex and the City" that they didn't need a man to be happy, as long as they knew who they were and valued their independence. Women, in the world of "Sex and the City" were the strong and viable creatures that they always had been. They were only just then getting the recognition for it with a show devoted to their hopes, dreams, fears, likes, and interests. While there are many more shows that value these same characteristics in a woman, "Sex and the City" was the pioneer.
