4 Unique Women 4 Ethical Dilemmas

1. 4 Unique Women 4 Ethical Dilemmas Presented by: Selena Sandhu, Royal Roads University

2. View Movie Trailer Sex and the City 2 released in 2010 is a romantic comedy, sequel to the first Sex and the City movie released in 2008. The movies are based on the HBO TV series “Sex and the City”, which is based on a novel written by Candance Bushnell.The lives of four women who are now in their forties are explored on screen. Everything in their lives is considered a “hot topic” from relationships, careers, fashion and sex. Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda have evolved together as friends and no matter how much happiness they have or how much sadness they feel, they always depend on each other to have fun with. They have now reached the mature stages of their lives, going from early thirties to forties together. Throughout the film each woman was faced with an ethical dilemma that dealt with their own personal goals and passions. In the midst of all of their emotions and desires Samantha offers the ladies a chance of a lifetime to join her for “ladies only” while on a work related trip to Abu Dhabi where they could leave all there troubles behind back in New York City. The ladies come home to the Big Apple with new perspectives on their lives.

3. Carrie Bradshaw Carrie is in her second year of marriage to “Mr. Big”, John James Preston, a New York Entrepreneur. Their ideals about marriage are clashing as Carrie wants to hit the town and have fun while Mr. Big rather relax at home, order take out and watch old country films. She becomes torn between her previous non marriage relationship with Mr. Big and decides that they will separate their time together as a couple from their own personal time as individuals. Although Carrie came up with this solution, she still isn’t satisfied. She questions why relationships change after marriage. While taking a journey through the markets of Abu Dhabi, Carrie randomly bumps into one her ex-boyfriends, Aiden, a furniture designer. Carrie and Aiden had a serious relationship in the past, but ended when Aiden found out that Carrie was having an affair with her current husband, Mr. Big. Carrie’s ethical dilemma arises when she agrees to meet with Aiden for dinner. At the end of the evening, Carrie and Aiden share a kiss. Carrie feels guilty after kissing Aiden and questions whether or not to tell Mr. Big about the kiss. Her friends console her and tell her not to tell him. Carrie realizes that her marriage to Mr. Big is what she wants and needs to be honest with him. Although she tells Mr. Big about the kiss, he doesn’t react well. When she arrives back to the City she finds herself appreciating her marriage more. Mr. Big feels the same way. He gives Carrie a beautiful black diamond ring, to remind her of their marriage and wedding vows.

4. Samantha Jones Samantha is a liberal and independent women. She is at the top of her industry in Public Relations and has also over come Breast Cancer. She has a “work hard, play hard” attitude and doesn’t take no for an answer from anyone. At the age of 52, she is trying to go through menopause as smooth as possible, taking hormone supplements, using anti-aging creams and eating healthy foods. Public Relations Specialist Samantha’s ethical dilemma takes place during her trip to Abu Dhabi. She spots a handsome man named Rikard on an adventure across the dry, hot desert. She can’t keep away and makes arrangements for dinner with him. Samantha doesn’t consider where she is in the present time, in a strict and conservative Muslim culture. She offends members of the Abu Dhabi community with her in appropriate behaviour by seducing , kissing and engaging in sexual intercourse with Rikard in public. As a result she is a arrested and is left with her name on police records. She is fortunately bailed out of prison with the help of Miranda(who is a lawyer) and also by the Sheik that invited her to the trip. Although she is bailed out of jail, the ladies pack their bags and leave as they are not welcomed anymore in the luxurious hotel they were invited to stay at.

5. Charlotte York Charlotte is a full time mother and wife. She has two little girls under the ages of 6 years old. With two young children and the responsibilities of being a wife, she is finding herself in a stressful position with no time for herself. To cope with the stress, the family hires a nanny to take care of the children. Although the nanny is a great amount of help, Charlotte becomes threatened by media influences about husbands cheating on their wives with nannies . Housewife/Mother Former Art Dealer Charlotte creates ideas in her head that her husband, Harry Goldenblatt will cheat on her with their children’s nanny, Erin. One of the main reasons for this is that Erin doesn’t wear a bra, therefore you can see her entire physical appearance. During the trip in Abu Dhabi, Charlotte realizes that she is over analyzing the situation and that letting go of the nanny would not benefit Charlotte nor her children. She decides to keep the Nanny because her children adore her and her husband has no relationship with the nanny, other than being her employer. Oddly enough, Charlotte had nothing to worry about, as it turns out, Erin is a lesbian, she much prefers women rather than men.

6. Miranda Hobbes Miranda is a full time lawyer, mother and wife. Her life is extremely demanding. As a new lawyer she had always put her work first and now years into her career is still working long hours. The only difference is that she has a family to be a part of. Due to her long hours, she isn’t there to see pieces of her son’s childhood. Miranda’s ethical dilemma is whether or not to keep her job. At the current law firm she is working at she is being mistreated by her boss. He is undermining her work and not treating her equally amongst her peers. Miranda takes a risk to change her situation at work. She stands up to her egotistical boss and leaves the company. After her trip to Abu Dhabi with the ladies, she challenges her self and finds a new legal company to work for where she is appreciate for her legal experience and skills. Lawyer Mother/Wife

7. applying Ethical Foundations and Principals The Golden Mean – Aristotle Risk taking occurs when making drastic decisions. Decisions should be made examining both extremes and consequences in lined with ones virtue. One is seen as wise if they avoid both extremes cowardliness and foolhardiness. Carrie, Charlotte and Miranda all looked at both sides of the spectrum when they made their decisions. Their decisions were not just based on their own ideals, but from a family perspective , of those directly involved in their lives. Divine Will – AugustineSamantha’s ethical dilemma involved taking part in inappropriate behavior in a strict Muslim society. Although she isn’t a part of that religion or culture, she should have taken into consideration her surroundings. Augustine believed that you either follow the city of god, which is governed by rules, or the city of man which promotes pleasure and more dependency. Samantha decided to ignored the culture and religion she was in to participate in pleasurable activities that are not accepted as a public behavior.

8. What Advice would I give? All four women are in mature stages in their lives. My suggestion to all women is to consider your commitments and responsibilities before making drastic decisions. You need to think of the greater good and what long term consequences do your actions have. Ethical dilemmas are always going to occur, some people may have different ethics and values than you. Its important to examine situations from more than one angle to be fair. Some of the ethical dilemmas in the movie were glamorized, but over all any of those situations could happen to real women in their daily lives.

9. Stay Tuned for more Ethical Dilemmas in the next instalment of Sex and the city