“What’s the Deal With Sex?”: How 'Seinfeld' Promoted Sexual Equality in the 90s

By Catherine Murphy

In the midst of third-wave feminism, the 90s was when we began to acknowledge that women had the capacity to enjoy, and even desire sex. While the media of the 80s primarily focused on male sexual fantasies, with films like Porky’s and Animal House focusing on voyeuristic pleasure where women were tools for enjoyment rather than agents in themselves, as the 90s approached the culture began to shift. There was still a fair share of male-dominated comedies, but women weren’t entirely left in the dust. There was Salt-N-Pepa who urged us to “talk about sex” despite how it may make people change the station. And starting in ‘89, Seinfeld gave us an equal opportunity portrayal of casual sex for both its male and female leads. There’s never a question of whether or not Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) should be having as much sex as the men she shares the screen with. She has her own rotating sexual partners, elaborate plans to trap suitors, and desires of her own. Even in the 21st century, it’s refreshing to see a woman who does what she wants. Seinfeld was an overlooked but crucial element of the wave of sexual liberation. 

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When considering Elaine’s sexual freedom, one episode in particular comes to mind. In Season Four’s “The Contest,” George (Jason Alexander) vows to never masturbate again. Doubtful he can stick to his word, Kramer (Michael Richards) and Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) decide to put money on who can go the longest. Elaine declares she wants in on the bet, and despite having to increase her ante, she’s just as invested in the contest as the boys. Jerry makes an off-handed comment that these things are different for women, but the joke comes off more at his expense than Elaine’s. It’s him that’s mistaken about women’s sexual desires, not Elaine. And he’s quickly proven wrong when Elaine caves second after a run-in with John F. Kennedy Jr. It proves that not only do women enjoy sex, they crave it. 

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In “Fusilli Jerry” (Season Six), Jerry discovers that Elaine’s on-again off-again boyfriend Puddy (Patrick Warburton) has been using his routine for oral sex. Much to Elaine’s disdain, Jerry makes him promise to find a new method. The episode’s central conflict is between Elaine, who wants Puddy to continue, and Jerry, who feels ownership over his “material.” At the time it was still fairly new to see pleasure specifically for women and a discussion of men being less than perfect at delivering it. 

There’s also something beautiful in what is lacking from the series. The all too easy ‘will they, won't they’ between the male and female leads. There isn’t a push for viewers to root for Jerry and Elaine romantically. Early in the show, Jerry and Elaine agree to sleep with each other casually while maintaining their friendship, a precursor of ‘friends with benefits.’ For a brief moment, the two seem to be in some kind of relationship, but by the next episode, they’ve broken up without explanation. From then on out their dating is nothing more than the occasional punchline. 

Despite her “one of the boys” tendencies, Elaine never has to sacrifice her femininity. She avoids falling into any caricature pitfalls, being a girlboss or simply a tomboy. She’s confident in both her sexuality and ambition, not shying away from any career or relationship opportunity. Perhaps this is what is most surprising about her, the fact that her desires aren't limited. She ventures into typically male only territory, unafraid to go for jobs she may be unqualified for, leave relationships over rather petty disputes, and stand her ground no matter what.

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Elaine was a sexual being without being forced to act as only a sex figure, and deeply opinionated, good or bad. She was frequently outspoken about her pro-abortion views and an attendant at a lesbian wedding. Other female characters at the time were mothers; they were wives, daughters, girlfriends. While there’s nothing wrong with those roles, the problem when all they are is someone’s something. Elaine never was. She was a working woman, with various successful and unsuccessful jobs. She was a serial dater and comedic force rivaling any man on the series. She was granted the ability to be as irrational and erratic as her counterparts. She was real.