In her article '' Structural Integrity , Historical Reversion , and the Post-9 / 11 Chick Flick '' , Diane Negra focuses on several romantic comedies , deemed to be chick flicks , set in New York City after the attacks on September 11th , 2001 . She claims that the films " centralize female subjectivity but more compellingly undertake political work to stabilize national identity post-9 / 11 . " Political and social upheaval following the attacks led to a need for films that show the importance of protecting gender and family norms , or " ideological boundaries " , as opposed to the emphasis on " survivalism " and " homeland security " used to protect national boundaries , seen in the action films at the time . Juxtaposed with the " politically innocent " genre of the pre-9 / 11 period , the films are rife with political undertones that are meant " to stabilize national identity post-9 / 11 "
attacks on September 11th , 2001
September 11 attacks
Chick flick