Is there a double standard for 'Sex and the City'?

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Su H. Wed, Jun 4, 2008 at 11:45 AM EST

Simon, you're a lovely person and exactly what a modern, intelligent, right-thinking man ought to be. You're definitely still a front-runner as far as progress goes, but if more men become like you as time passes, there may be hope for true love and understanding between men and women on a large scale after all! Thank you so much for this article--it's totally made my day! (hope you liked the movie in the end!)

Pinkie Mon, Jun 2, 2008 at 12:17 PM EST

Imagine if the four women were men. We wouldn't even be posing this question. And why is it ok for the American male to be proud of the fact that they're planning to see "Don't Mess With the Zohan" (gag) but not SATC? Why are movies completely acceptable if they are starring a male? But I digress. Marketing (albeit too much altogether) was aimed at a specific audience - who cares what anyone else thinks? I am not the only person excited to see this movie.

Anne Mon, Jun 2, 2008 at 08:47 AM EST

I cannot believe that clip! Smug, smarmy, patronizing, DEEPLY insulting, what were they thinking? I have never seen a single episode of SATC and don't plan to see the movie, but even I am offended. And any guy who, as these two buffoons suggest, sees the movie hoping to win some "favor" from his girlfriend in return deserves what he gets. Or doesn't get.

addy Sun, Jun 1, 2008 at 04:31 PM EST

How is it that mans masculinity is so fragile? It is a man's right to like or dislike anything they choose. Although, as a lot of you women will notice that anything female-centric does tend to be mocked and frowned upon by the male persuasion. I keep reading and seeing on TV plenty of angry, annoyed and dismissive men with opinions of SATC. What is it that angers you, so? I did like the show (at the beginning) and I am not too over excited about the movie but I love that the movie has been a great success. Love how the gentle whisper of misogyny is knitted into the reasoning behind the success of the film. The 'women flocked' or 'Women's movie devours Indy at box office'. Male centric movie (dick flicks) never are subject to the same nonsense. I mean Indy Jones got some bad internet rap before it was released. Movie did well but I never saw one 'Men save indy from box office mauling' review. More female writers. More female directors. Let's really give them something to talk about.

Connie Sun, Jun 1, 2008 at 01:58 PM EST

First of all, don't let Keith Olbermann fool you. Back in the early 2000s, he was a faithful SATC viewer. Otherwise, why would he have written this in Salon (http://dir.salon.com/story/news/sports/col/olbermann/2002/07/25/strike/index1.html) back in 2002, in which he both praises the show and complains that it got "too serious" after 9/11? Sorry, Keith, you seem to have forgotten, this column is still out there on the Internet to show your true feelings.

Second, I agree it's absurd that we regard entertainment featuring men as "for everyone" but relegate entertainment featuring women to the category of "chick flick," "chick lit, "etc. It just goes to show what second-class citizens women still are. Men are the default, we're the "option," and no man dare admit he enjoys any entertainment concerning our lives without being called gay or losing his "man credentials."

Oh, and for the record, I'm female but have never been a SATC fan. Can't relate that much to the woes of rich NYC women!

Erin Sun, Jun 1, 2008 at 02:41 AM EST

Great post, but I take issue with your classification of Keith Olbermann as a reasonable human being. I swear he uses the word sl*t or wh*re every single time I tune into his show.

He is gross and smug and his Special Comment performances are like watching bad community theater.

Erin Sun, Jun 1, 2008 at 02:33 AM EST

Great post, but I take issue with your classification of Keith Olbermann as a reasonable human being. I swear he uses the word sl*t or wh*re every single time I tune into his show.

He is gross and smug and his Special Comment performances are like watching bad community theater.

Fred Sat, May 31, 2008 at 06:15 PM EST

What baffles me is the message conveyed in the news media that ALL women are chomping at the bit to see SATC. I haven't heard any of my female co-workers buzzin about this movie. And my wife is so blase about SATC that she didn't know there was a movie tie-in.

As for me, I simply don't like SATC. And it goes deeper than me being a guy.

SATC is a turnoff because the female leads are only obsessed with their sex lives and wardrobes. Wouldn't they be more compelling and relevant if the TV show focused on deeper qualities like faith, intelligence, character, charity, and determination? The SATC ladies certainly would be empowered instead of mere pretenders.

I have no problem watching "chick flicks." But I prefer female characters in such films to be 3-D (Akeelah & the Bee, Why Did I Get Married?) instead of 2-D (SATC).

Sara Sat, May 31, 2008 at 03:24 PM EST

I know a lot of straight guys who liked the show, but they're just not going to the movie in the theater because it will be filled with women. And it's true... last night I saw it downtown Seattle, and it was full of dressed-up women and two men. Granted, the men (both with girlfriends/wives) seemed to really enjoy it, but it was a girlie experience--lots of hootin' and hollering, "awww"s and tears. It's just something that we all love and I think it's cool that everyone thought to dress nicely and bring their best girlfriends for a female bonding movie.

sharon Sat, May 31, 2008 at 01:58 PM EST

I'm a 37 year old woman from small-town Oregon. No Minolos in my closet. I wore my dept. store jeans and comfy shoes to curl up in my seat at the theatre and watch the movie last night. Didn't go out for Cosmos after, I was home by 9pm hanging with my kiddos on the sofa tippin' back a rootbeer. SATC has New York glitz and glamour, great fashion, all these fairy-tale places and faces. That's all fun escapism, but the real reason I watched the series and the movie is the connection I share with all these incredible characters. This series is primarily about the friendship of four strong women. It's also about everything that makes up their lives, our lives. Work, family, love, marriage. We've all felt the things they feel. Men included. Last I checked, men work, they fall in love, get married, raise families. The supporting male characters have always been vital to this show, just as vital as any female character has ever been to the many male-centered series on t.v. Get over all this!

c.e. Sat, May 31, 2008 at 01:19 PM EST

I'm a 40 yr old gay guy who likes to shop and lives in NYC and did see the show every week.That said, I saw the film alone cause my guy refused to see it with me, a first in our relationship. I was the ONLY man in the theater and it felt like it too.The longer the film ran and it does run long, I found my inner guy come out and wished for a little more action,more sex and a firing of the guy who kept dropping the boom mikes into the frames. The film was alright yet I wished I saw it with friends cause that would have been fun. But when I came home and saw my guy I realized, as usual, he loved me caused had he gone to the movie with me he would've made my life hell by kvetching his boredom throughout the film. If guys don't want to see the film so be it but at the same time SATC is a chick flick written by a gay man and if it does make a mint more films for us in the future and we all win...now on to X-files.

Sat, May 31, 2008 at 01:04 PM EST

i thought that Family Guy line was "...three hookers and their MADAM (implying Samantha)", not mom....

t3hdow Sat, May 31, 2008 at 11:25 AM EST

To Jane:
Wonderful typecasting. You're part of the existing problem and the biggest reason why articles/blogs like this exist in the first place. Shame on you.
To Steve:
You're missing the point. Of course everyone concluded that SatC is primarily aimed towards females. No one's debating that detail at all. The problem lies with how it's seen with the opposite gender, which the consensus seems to be that if you enjoy SatC (or any 'chick flick' for that matter) and you're a guy, you're a closet gay. That's complete baloney but our society seems to buy into the false stigma. Otherwise, we wouldn't see so many examples of inflated heterosexuality proclaiming that BS double standard. As long as it continues to exist, we'll keep hearing things like 'Lisa S.' should not review Indiana Jones or 'Owen G.'s' a f@g in denial for enjoying Sex and the City. Raven_Moon and gabrielle said it best about the male dominated bias, surrounding Hollywood and as a result, our society in general.

anonymous Sat, May 31, 2008 at 10:24 AM EST

Carrie and Big get married at City Hall
Steve cheats on Miranda, but they stay together
Samantha leaves Smith
Charlotte gives birth to a baby girl

Alex Sat, May 31, 2008 at 09:00 AM EST

SATC has straight male fans? I remember watching the show when it came out (hey I was ~16 guess why I was interested)and thinking it had to be one of the worst written shows ever put to film. Imagine my surprise a few years later when the show blew up, I thought oh maybe they got better. So back I went for an episode. I lasted maybe 10 minutes before I absolutely had to change the channel. The show was putridly bad, and honestly led to the whole cougar fad which desperately needs to go. Boozed up slutty rich women are not interesting to most men, and the attempts at humor (puns anyone?)are pathetic at best. This is coming from someone who has watched 3 seasons of Project Runway (I know talk about masculine) so I am not prejudicial against shows targeted at women, just against over hyped bad shows with awful writing.

Steve Sat, May 31, 2008 at 08:26 AM EST

What a stupid article. SATC is AIMED at women. Just as there have been movies considered "Guy flicks," SATC is a "Gal flick." Newsflash: Men and women are different in a lot of ways.

Men and women have a lot of common ground. Many movies appeal equally across gender lines. Some are specifically aimed at a male audience. Some at a female audience. When it is all said and done, statistics will show that the overwhelming majority of ticket buyers for SATC were women. It isn't because of some sexist Hollywood conspiracy.

Fady Sat, May 31, 2008 at 08:08 AM EST

I'm a man, and I'll be damned if I don't see this movie asap. I loved the series, and I can't wait to see THE movie.

Val Sat, May 31, 2008 at 07:26 AM EST

I saw the movie yesterday and I loved it. It's exactly what I hoped it would be. It dragged a little in the middle but came back together by the end. I've seen every episode at least twice and I was happy with the movie and story lines. The movie isn't only for women. There were quite a few men there with girlfriends and a few without.

gabrielle Sat, May 31, 2008 at 07:21 AM EST

Why are we also given unlimited access to a range of "male experiences" in film, but the only film produced and expected to make money focusing exclusively on females is SaTC? Wasn't it an EW writer who commented on the lack of films at Sundance this year that put women in the spotlight? The rampant consumerism in SaTC is kinda gross, but show me more than a handfull of films that put women's friendships center stage, then maybe I'll start listening to men who find sexualized and sucessfull women threatening.
Right on Simon.

Raven_Moon Sat, May 31, 2008 at 01:11 AM EST

That whole segment was awful. I think there has always been a double standard when it comes to movies that are suppose to be "made for women." Why can't an intelligent and entertaining film be just that? You bring up an excellent point, why are films about men labeled for everyone, but films about women are just merely chick flicks? Perhaps, it's that Hollywood is a male-dominated industry & that they care about the young man's ticket money the most? I don't know. I do know that my brother, who is straight, who loves wrestling, action movies & things that blow up has seen almost every episode of SATC & he will see the film, though probably on DVD.

j Fri, May 30, 2008 at 09:59 PM EST

What made men "come all the way over here" to post? Um, this is a popwatch blog. I respond to the articles that lead to good discussion. Are people only allowed to post in articles they agree with? I agree, I don't have issue with the movie, but I do find it annoying that these 4 women are supposed to be empowering and aspirational, but to me they come off as superficial and self-centered.

Jane Fri, May 30, 2008 at 07:56 PM EST

I like how Jay thinks he's enlightened because he's a straight man who likes Gossip Girl. Dude, are you sure you're not gay? And by the way some women (like me) think the show was funny, profound, and relevant. This in spite of the fact that I am not a sex obsessed, fashion worshiping single gal in New York. Hope you enjoy scratching your jock over at Iron Man. Your girlfriend will be glad that you aren't in the theater with her watching SATC.

t3hdow Fri, May 30, 2008 at 07:52 PM EST

[The poster] Me and Jelena said it best. The entertainment industry perpetuates everyone's viewing habits based off their demographic. I know studios do this to project sales and viewership, but I hate how it stereotypes everyone into a box, based off age, gender, race and (for a lack of a better term) educated status. It's quite infuriating sometimes, and the SatC bashing based off super inflated and insecure heterosexuality irks me to no end. Same with Brokeback Mountain, which I didn't find that big a deal before and after viewing the film.
Also, when Lisa S. reviewed Indiana Jones and gave it a lukewarm B-, some posters stated it was a bad choice for a (gasp!) woman to enjoy an action film aimed for young men. I felt disguste at how passive it was. Even though I'm impartial to the series, I applaud Owen G.'s SatC review to prove this stigma wrong and Simon for bringing this issue to light (I forgive you for the Prince of Persia flub after this informative blog).

Snarf Fri, May 30, 2008 at 06:03 PM EST

I think it's a smattering of disinterest and gayisim (god forbid you should be mistaken for a gay cause your at a "chick flick") Whatever.

eric Fri, May 30, 2008 at 05:41 PM EST

thank you for writing this blog! i'm a striaght guy, too, and i have to admit that i was getting aggitated by all the articles/shows claiming no straight guy would want to see this. i like the show for reasons of it being funny, entertaining, life lessons, etc. maybe those reasons are different than a woman, fashion, etc. but entertainment crosses boundaries.

anon4mail Fri, May 30, 2008 at 05:41 PM EST

Well done, Simon. Your enlightened opinion is like a breath of fresh air. *Sigh* Why does this have to be such a rare quality in straight men? Is their masculinity really so fragile that they fear losing it if they dare to enjoy SATC? If they’re so (prejudiced and) uninterested in this movie, what are they doing posting here? Seriously. WTF made them come all the way over here just to bash women because they’re excited about a movie? How can “professional” (male) critics feel comfortable publishing uninformed, biased views unrelated to the movie’s target audience? Wouldn’t a “professional” be expected to do a little research prior to reviewing the film? What a bizarre phenomenon and fatal flaw present in so many men. Maybe women would be wise to “drag” their boyfriends to this movie, if only to determine whether the fatal flaw is present. Just don’t sit near me. I don’t want to have to listen to him whine like a baby.

Jodi Fri, May 30, 2008 at 05:02 PM EST

Yeah, I normally love Keith Olbermann, but that whole segment pissed me off. I'm seeing SATC this weekend because I loved the show, but my expectations for the movie are pretty low.

Melissa Silverstein Fri, May 30, 2008 at 04:55 PM EST

Hey there. Thanks so much for mentioning my piece on the double standard for Sex and the City.

I have a new piece: A Women's Cultural Moment up on my site: Women & Hollywood. Check it out at: www.womenandhollywood.com

Jay Fri, May 30, 2008 at 04:32 PM EST

I (a man) don't think that men not wanting to see SATC has to do with it being about women. I happen to enjoy TV shows like Grey's Anatomy and Gossip Girl, and enjoy a good romantic comedy, which are all skewed more towards women. I think the reason that most men don't like sex in the city is because we are smart enough to realize that it's not funny. We don't get distracted by all the pretty clothes, and stylish locations, and all the upper-crusty New York lifestyle that most of us are not accustomed to. I've been forced to watch a couple of episodes, and I don't think I ever laughed once. This wouldn't be a problem except that the show is supposed to be a comedy. When I think of women watching the show, all I think of is a bunch of cats hypnotized by the red dot of a laser-pen flying around the room.

whatever Fri, May 30, 2008 at 04:11 PM EST

to BJ - If EW pulled the plug on every hyped event someone didn't like, there wouldn't be a magazine to print. If you don't like it. Don't read it. As for the movie, I am looking forward to it. I'm single, 36, and - thanks to SATC - I've learned to really appreciate myself in a society that goes out of its way to degrade women by posing them as mommy replacements or eye candy. I found the show to be well thought out about the various subjects it touched on ranging from the light hearted (the rabbit episode) to the heart wrenching (Sam's cancer battle).

Tim Fri, May 30, 2008 at 04:10 PM EST

Sorry, but 'Three hookers and their mom' sums this up for me. Funnier than any episode of this dreck I've ever seen.

sam Fri, May 30, 2008 at 04:00 PM EST

BJ, totally with you about that issue a few weeks back. I get that it's a cover story, and that's fine, but EVERY ARTICLE that issue was about S&TC. Why? Didn't we get that when the show went off the air?

And no, Jessica Alba would not make me want to see this movie either. She's a pretty face, and not even that pretty, and her acting sucks.

The series may have been about women with deeper traits than fashion obsession and self centered-ness in relationships, but I sure didn't see it in the few eps I watched. And from the reviews I've read, the movie is more of the same X 1000.

bj Fri, May 30, 2008 at 03:39 PM EST

My wife did not like the tv show I do not like the tv show and i want my money back for the SATC dominated issue of EW. Mna I pulled that crap off trashed it and saved the rest.

clb Fri, May 30, 2008 at 03:33 PM EST

I couldn't care less about clothes & my guy has more shoes than me. The show has never been about "that" to me, it was just witty & genuine in it's depiction of relationships & friendships.

Keith O & his increasing insecurity/mild misogyny is starting to dull his shine. This Simon Vozick-Levinson is sounding more interesting all the time though!

nunya Fri, May 30, 2008 at 03:12 PM EST

i do want to see SATC b/c i did enjoy the series, but i can see why men would not want to watch the film. even i, a black 20 y.o. female sometimes get sick of the materialism and general whorishness the show often strays into, and also, would it have killed the producers to have one nonwhite main character (the inclusion of jennifer hudson as an assistant doesn't count.) and honestly, to comment on what Nose said, the women on the show are not really attractive, with the exception of kristin davis. they all look kind of wierd.

Jeanne Fri, May 30, 2008 at 03:05 PM EST

Personally I'm more puzzled by the assumption that because I'm female and not interested in the movie that I'm some kind of a freak. I'm sick to death of hearing about this damn movie.

bonnylass Fri, May 30, 2008 at 02:34 PM EST

Jelana, I agree completely. There are dozens of male-focused movies that come out every summer, but I don't hear women whining about that. I can't believe the utterly juvenile reaction some men have to the very existence of movies like SATC and Brokeback. And that they feel the need to proclaim VERY loudly that they would never, ever see these movies. It's ridiculous.

Jelana Fri, May 30, 2008 at 02:12 PM EST

It's just like Brokeback. A bunch of guys making themselves feel more secure about the masculinity by taking cheap shots. In my mind, by the way, this behavior always makes their heterosexuality claims a little bit suspect.

Blair Fri, May 30, 2008 at 01:39 PM EST

I think we should stop reading the reviews and the articles and the spoilers because they skew everything. The movie is fun. The movie is really good. I saw it last night. I loved the series and it is what it is suppose to be. A cinematic continuation of SATC. It is everything the series was, so if you liked the series, you should like the movie, if you don't like the series, why even bother reading the articles. I am a man by the way.

Rasha Fri, May 30, 2008 at 01:26 PM EST

I've been thinking about that all week! I don't really get it. I could say it's because a hugely hyped movie, in which the main characters are all women over 40 and they're not dealing with menopause and trying to get their children married off, is a rarity in Hollywood. Personally, I feel the same way about the marketing of action movies. I don't know how many reviews I read about "Iron-Man" and "Transformers" being a 19-year-old-boys' wetdream. I'm a 26 year old black woman and I was just as excited about those films as the anyone else!

Sex and the City can be quite a polarizing show, most men hate it, most women love it. But I'm going with my two friends and they're husbands (who aren't being forced to go, but they crashing our girls' night out), so there's enough fabulousness for all.

Me Fri, May 30, 2008 at 01:25 PM EST

The fact is that when it comes to any form of entertainment, there is an entire set of rules that have been endorsed by the media that detail what each person SHOULD be interested in and should be embarassed about being interested in (e.g. the creation of the phrase "guilty pleasure") based on their demographic. It extends from movies into television, music, books, and beyond. It's the most restrictive for males: they're not allowed to like pop music, romance, or anything to do with fashion. The rule also exists with the critical community's perpetuation of "high-brow" vs. "low-brow." Anyone who is even moderately educated should feel just as embarassed about liking a gross-out comedy or broad sitcom as a straight man who wants to see SATC should be. None of these rules have any basis in what people actually enjoy but rather how they think they want to be perceived by others.

Heather Fri, May 30, 2008 at 01:09 PM EST

I hate the assumption that if you are female you must want to see this movie. I am female and I really can't stand Sex and the City or most romantic comedies.

Stef Fri, May 30, 2008 at 01:01 PM EST

BFD

Katy Fri, May 30, 2008 at 12:46 PM EST

All i know is that the media coverage of this film release is so overarching, I have NO interest in seeing it anymore. Yeah, I said it: I've had enough Sex and the City!

dan jones Fri, May 30, 2008 at 12:30 PM EST

The difference between SATC and Wild Hogs is that Wild Hogs had huge movie stars in it (Travolta, Allen, etc) and the "stars" of SATC are, well... tv stars. Also, the expectation that men will not go is based on the demographic performance of "Devil Wears Prada" (the producers themselves have said this) which attracted about 4 women for every one guy.

Oh, and Oberrman is an idiot, so, who cares what he thinks.

Fri, May 30, 2008 at 12:29 PM EST

It's pretty cool that this issue was written about. Being a more consious male goes hand in had with being a more open minded male. A result of this, not the incentive to this, is that most men will get more tail - gay or straight. Or if not tail, a deeper connection with whoever you're sharing your life with.

GingerCat Fri, May 30, 2008 at 12:27 PM EST

Also, Kristin Davis is about 1000 times more beautiful than Jessica Alba will ever be, so if Nose is correct, I dispair at the terrible taste of men.

GingerCat Fri, May 30, 2008 at 12:23 PM EST

Considering I'm a single, thirtysomething woman who lives in a big city, you'd think I'd be all about this movie. But I'm not--I've reached my limit just with the total media saturation this flick has received. I won't be seeing it in the theater and probably not on DVD. I'm tired of the materialism and shoe obsession, too, and resent the way it seems to have influenced real-life young women in that regard. So how can I blame any men for not wanting to see this, when I don't either?
Also, I consider myself a feminist, but I think the "three hookers and their mom" line is kind of funny. So sue me.

Nose Fri, May 30, 2008 at 12:21 PM EST

I agree that discounting men all together is a bit of a mistake, and manly men like Olbermann probably do watch the show but are too afraid to admit it. I'm going to make a sweeping generalization here, but if this movie/tv show had different actresses in it, men would be more inclined to watch. Most guys I talk to don't find the actors attractive, and for my guy friends, that would be a big draw. If Jessica Alba or someone like that were on the show or in the movie, guys would be all over it. I'm sure that's not true of all guys, of course, just seems to be the consensus among those I talk to.

Homerox Fri, May 30, 2008 at 12:09 PM EST

Following off of Tom B's comment...I don't think most men have an aversion to women in starring roles in movies, but it might be that they have an aversion to THESE women (or these TYPES, as Tom points out) who at first glance seem incredibly shallow and materialistic. Never watched the show, so I'm sure there are more facets to the characters than these, but because of this strong negative first impression (as well as the sneaking feeling that after the movie I'd feel like I just watched a 2+ hour long commercial for whatever fashions and accessories Madison Ave. wants to push this summer), I know I'd have no interest in checking this out.

Lise Fri, May 30, 2008 at 11:59 AM EST

It IS infuriating and insulting. I'm a woman who loves to go to superhero/sci fi/action movies, etc... AND love Sex and the City. Why can't men do both too? Or, more to the point, why can't the media understand that men can do both?

TheOtherOne Fri, May 30, 2008 at 11:50 AM EST

Don't know about the mainstream assumptions, but I (a female) personally never cared for Sex and the City. But my ex-boyfriend watched it ALL THE TIME. Wouldn't be surprised if he saw it in the theater. I doubt I'll ever see it.

orville Fri, May 30, 2008 at 11:35 AM EST

It's a silly assumption. I'm sure that the studios weren't wondering whether or not I'd love Iron Man (which I thought was one of the coolest movies ever), so why should they worry about whether my boyfriend would love Sex and the City? He does, by the way--and did far before I ever met him. He saw it as sort of an instruction guide to women. He even drinks Cosmos.

Patty A Fri, May 30, 2008 at 11:34 AM EST

While I know there's a lot riding on SaTC's box office success, I've been more concerned about the distinct hostility some men seem to have towards this movie. It's not just the MSNBC clip - I've read multiple reviews (inevitably by men) snickering at the anticipation for this film and wondering why anyone would be interested in seeing a movie about 40-somethings and their sex lives. Are they saying we as women aren't interesting or worth any value after a certain age? Or that we aren't allowed to experience the same fanboy joy and excitement they have over a movie like Star Wars?

And don't even get me started about the "fanboy" reaction on sites like Ain't It Cool. One review on the website actually had the headline "Massawyrm Has SEX AND THE CITY And Leaves It Bleeding And Crying On The Mattress!" Must they evoke rape imagery towards a series that helped women embrace (and feel empowered by) their sexuality? Ugh, it's infuriating.

Gender Socialization is BS Fri, May 30, 2008 at 11:21 AM EST

Amen, Simon!

Eric Friedmann Fri, May 30, 2008 at 11:14 AM EST

I'm married to a Jewish woman...so sex is not that much of an issue anymore!

Andrew Wickliffe Fri, May 30, 2008 at 11:13 AM EST

Oh, please, Family Guy making it to MSNBC makes it all worth it.
Now if Olbermann would refer to Creationists as more mentally impaired than the mentally handicapped...

Tom Brazelton Fri, May 30, 2008 at 11:08 AM EST

I think the knee jerk reaction is to make fun of SatC for it's focus on the fairer sex. But the larger issue is romantic comedies in general and how they've failed to attract men in recent years specifically BECAUSE of the effect Sex and the City has had on the culture. Men are an accessory in their universe. Something to obtain along with The Job, The Shoes, The Happiness, etc. I'm not saying action movies aren't guilty of doing the same thing to women. But romantic comedies USED to be about uniting the sexes and since Sex in the City, there has been significantly less romance in romantic comedies.