Ep 9. A Woman's Right to Shoes (a.k.a. No Shoes, No Service)

In Sex and the City season 6 episode 9, titled "A Woman's Right to Shoes" (a.k.a. "No Shoes, No Service"), Carrie Bradshaw attends a baby shower for her friend and former assistant, who is now pregnant and happily married. Everything seems to be going smoothly at the shower, until Carrie's beloved Manolo Blahnik heels are stolen - a $485 pair of shoes that she had been saving up for and had been wearing to the party.

Carrie is understandably upset and hurt by the incident. She tries to play it off and jokes about how she's not a mother yet so she doesn't have any expensive baby gear to lose, but as the shower goes on, she becomes increasingly distressed about the loss of her shoes. When she confronts the hostess, who she suspects may have thrown them away accidentally, she is met with indifference and annoyance.

This incident sparks a larger conversation among Carrie and her girlfriends about how society often devalues women who are unmarried and childless. Charlotte expresses sympathy for Carrie's situation but also mentions how she has encountered similar dismissal from salespeople and strangers who assume that if she's not a mother, she must not have anything valuable to protect. Miranda shares that she's been treated similarly and wonders why it is that women are expected to justify their worth by their relationships and family status.

As the episode progresses, Carrie becomes more and more frustrated by the lack of concern and understanding from her friends and the people around her. She runs into her former high school boyfriend and his wife, who are now wealthy and pregnant. They offer to buy her a new pair of Manolos, but Carrie is offended by the implication that her worth can be measured by the shoes she wears or the relationships she's had. Finally, at a charity event, Carrie gives an impassioned speech about why women deserve to be valued for who they are and not just their external trappings.

In the end, Carrie is able to reclaim her sense of self-worth and confidence in her own identity. She realizes that the shoes weren't the problem; it was the societal pressure to adhere to expectations that didn't fit her life choices. The episode ends with Carrie walking barefoot on the streets of New York City, in a symbolic gesture of defiance against the idea that shoes or any material possession can define a woman's value.

Overall, "A Woman's Right to Shoes" is a poignant and thought-provoking episode that explores themes of identity, gender roles, and stereotypes. It showcases the strength and resilience of women who refuse to be defined by external factors, and encourages viewers to embrace their own unique paths in life.