the joke
by rantywoman
http://bitchmagazine.org/post/single-girls-in-the-city-TV-manhattan-myth
Television would have us believe that, in order to lead independent and successful lives, we must live in New York City. And while that works out well for privileged Carrie and—while she had an allowance—Hannah, it’s sometimes devastating for working class girls like Peggy and Betty. Television entices us to pawn our financial security for a dream job and a dream lifestyle. But in both television and in real life, it’s not a level playing field. There’s a price tag for Manhattan ambitions, and the growing wealth disparity in America has made those dreams even more elusive for women of the 99%.
Author John Updike once said, “The true New Yorker secretly believes that people living anywhere else have to be, in some sense, kidding.” While this makes for excellent comedy on TV, for ambitious women who struggle in real life, trying to fund a career in New York is truly no joke.
thebitterbabe 
I can’t believe this writer is offended by a TV show. Why is everything political? It’s a TV show. It’s supposed to be at least part fantasy. I will never ever be able to live in NY. Or probably San Francisco even though I would really love that experience. Or maybe I could if I do very little after paying rent. I will also never buy expensive shoes like Carrie. But so what? I never felt offended or left out because of it. I think most of us know the real world and also know we can enjoy certain aspects of the lifestyle if not the whole thing.
Having said that, I’d probably really, really enjoy a more realistic show, of realistic incomes, housing situations, relationships that I can relate to. That would be great but I am still not offended at looking at a life I cannot afford.
I took it more as the idea that single people are drawn to megacities, but they have become difficult to afford for people on one income.