low anxiety

The NYT’s Alessandra Stanley is concerned about the incorrect characterization of women in the upcoming spinoff of Grey’s Anatomy [e.a.]:

On “Grey’s Anatomy” at least two female characters, Christina (Sandra Oh) and Dr. Bailey (Chandra Wilson) have confidence, big egos and an ability to keep their sorrows to themselves most of the time. The female leads on the new series are fragile and pitiable, and it’s a worrisome imbalance. The HBO series “Sex and the City” made light of female insecurity and let its flighty heroines come out ahead. Here even the most successful women are left behind in life.

Then Stanley steps back to second-guess her own silly critique of fiction:

It wouldn’t matter, since the show is admittedly over-the-top escapist fantasy for women,

And then she steps forward once again to pass judgment:

except that it is troubling that even in escapist fantasies, today’s heroines have to be weak, needy and oversexed to be liked by women and desired by men.

Memo to dramatists: plausibility and heightened tension are no no longer your first concerns. Make sure your women behave correctly.