Women’s Magazines: Why You Should Stop Reading Them
I stopped reading women’s magazines because I just can’t handle this type of content anymore:
1. They publish ads and fashion spreads featuring super-thin, airbrushed-to-perfection young models. Women of all ages feel inadequate when they compare themselves to these unrealistic images.
Image credit: merci
2. They tell women that they should let men be in charge. “Letting him see your vulnerable side will bring him closer because it unlocks his instincts to take care of you. So give him chances to take charge, and thank him after he does.” Cosmopolitan.
3. Women’s magazines subtly convey the message that getting married is a woman’s most important goal, then proceed to teach women tricks that would help them achieve that goal. “He still hasn’t proposed? This famous recipe might do the trick”. Glamour.
Image credit: m.a.x
4. They encourage women to spend ridiculous amounts of money on shoes, handbags and clothes, and often place no value on being thrifty, on saving and on becoming financially independent. “Need it now: Manolo Blahnik heels - $685″. Vogue.
Image from Kate Spade
5. They think you should freak out about aging at the age of 30. Thirty! Marie Claire.
Image credit: whatnot
6. Women’s magazines say that “over the next year, dieters will shed pounds and gain confidence“. Can’t women gain confidence without losing weight? Allure.
Image credit: slushpup
7. They encourage women to follow idiotic fashion and beauty trends while completely disregarding practicality or eco-consciousness. “Usually it’s women who suffer in the name of beauty, but next fall, it just might be the ozone layer. Break out the hairspray, because high-maintenance hair that requires more than a few spritzes is about to be everywhere.” Elle.
Image credit: Dr. Monkey
8. When encouraging women to lose weight, women’s magazines often focus on looks more than they focus on health. It’s no coincidence that Shape Magazine’s diet plan is called “Bikini-body countdown“.
Image credit: Thomas Hawk
9. They tell women that “men want to be constantly admired. Guys know they’re not perfect, but they want you to tell them they are, or at least highlight frequently the things they do best.”. Ladies’ Home Journal.
Image credit: monolith68
10. They promote a 5-week diet plan instead of a permanent lifestyle change. Women’s World.
Image credit: malias
Related Articles:
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Plastic Surgery Pressure
Edited to add: Kat says in her comment below: “While I agree with you 100%, your last entry appears to be an independent site, not affiliated with magazine Woman’s World.” Thank you, Kat. You are correct.
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suburbancorrespondent responds:
Posted: September 7th, 2008 at 8:37 pm →
What cracks me up is how magazines such as Family Circle, LHJ, and the like are about evenly split - half their articles are about weight loss and the other half are recipes. In other words, they make you hungry and then they tell you not to eat!
suburbancorrespondent’s last blog post..Home Remedies (Geopolitical and Otherwise)
Ryan responds:
Posted: September 7th, 2008 at 8:43 pm →
Hmmmm… I agree about the confidense killing techniques and the rediculously skinny (and silly looking) models and the overt marketing garbage; but… some things are a little more gray. Take, for instance, marriage or dieting programs. It’s more about personal opinion, and in these two cases, many people may share the opinion. It’s one of those “if it works for you, go for it” sort of things. Unlike skinny models and extremely expensive hand-bags, eating carrots five days a week or desiring to get married is not nearly as confidense crushing or degrading or prone to cause personal dissatisfaction.
Max Forlani responds:
Posted: September 7th, 2008 at 9:05 pm →
Hi Vered,
I’m obviously not an avid reader of women’s magazines, but I do read in the news quite a few times that some models for big European fashion shows were refused simply because they were too thin.
On the other hand I wonder what your take is on a soap serie like Sex and the City? The characters obviously ’struggle’ with the same issues, but at the same time add to the fashion awareness… hence these very popular Sex and the City NY tourist trips, expensive shopping included.
Cheers,
Max
Max Forlani’s last blog post..Clueless Fridays
Scott McIntyre responds:
Posted: September 7th, 2008 at 9:24 pm →
Well, Vered… I must confess that in my time, I have read one or two magazines which have been left around
Even from a male perspective, I can fully appreciate the points you raise.
And, with a slight change of gender focus, most of these issues you suggest apply just as similarly to male lifestyle magazines.
Yet, these publications only sell because sufficient numbers of both women and men want to hear the messages they communicate. Worryingly, these messages- sometimes damaging psychologically- are being conveyed to ever younger readers.
There is a hungry audience of image conscious readers of both sexes willing to support the modern obsession with designer-clad, photoshopped illusions of reality. Sadly enough.
Stephanie responds:
Posted: September 7th, 2008 at 9:42 pm →
Great points. I think I read women’s magazines only a couple of times in my 20s, then gave them up. Just not me.
My mother does still jokingly celebrate the xth anniversary of her 29th birthday, but it’s all in fun, not a desire to remain younger than she is.
Stephanie’s last blog post..Family Game Night - Free Fun Fridays
Marelisa responds:
Posted: September 7th, 2008 at 9:50 pm →
Oh Vered, I have not read a woman’s magazine in so long I can’t even remember when was the last time I did read one. As you point out, it’s the same ridiculous articles hashed out with different titles. I can’t believe I once read that stuff! Now I’m just myself,and much happier for it.
Marelisa’s last blog post..20 Ways to Raise Your IQ
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 7th, 2008 at 10:20 pm →
@ suburbancorrespondent: It’s true! It’s either recipes, or articles on diets! Ha.
@ Ryan: Thank you for your comment! While I disagree with you, I am always happy to hear an opinion that’s different than mine. It makes life more interesting. My point is, that women can be happy without getting married – but to judge by these magazines, they can’t. Also, women should strive to be healthy and fit rather than go on a short-term diet in order to look nice in a bikini.
@ Max: I liked Sex and the City because it featured a beautiful, supportive friendship between women. The fashion fixation was a bit much, even for a fashion lover like myself.
@ Scott: I agree that it’s even more troubling when teens are exposed to these messages.
@ Stephanie: I used to read them in my teens and twenties. I actually liked them. It took me a long time to realize the damage that they were doing.
@ Marelisa: I know. It’s ridiculous. I still pick up a magazine at the hair salon once in a while, but I can’t enjoy them anymore. I just get MAD.
Julie Amar responds:
Posted: September 7th, 2008 at 10:26 pm →
Hi Vered,
I am a twenty-something woman. I’ve seen three generations of women in my family torn apart by their own private battles with self-image and self-identity. I do not read women’s magazines, but all of the other media outlets spew enough of the same regarding the female image that your points hold true. I am so tired of being subjected to false image and behaviour expectations! Thank you for posting about this.
Vintage Mommy responds:
Posted: September 7th, 2008 at 10:32 pm →
I was addicted to magazines like Glamour when I was young, and then I moved on to the “fitness” magazines. What I noticed was that even mags like Health and Prevention became mostly focused on losing weight, with much less info about general good health, etc.
I’ve given them all up; I now just receive Vogue Knitting (which in truth also has scary models), Everyday FOOD, and a couple of scrapbooking magazines which are refreshingly free of all that stuff.
Barbara Swafford responds:
Posted: September 7th, 2008 at 11:29 pm →
Hi Vered,
I totally agree with what you’re saying. About six months ago I was decluttering and rid myself of old magazines that had stacked up. One thing I noticed is most magazines have the same content. Then to fill the pages they are displaying ads you’ve spoken about for losing weight, growing hair, wrinkle cream, make up, hair color, and accessories that cost more that some people make in a week (or more).
When insecure women are exposed to this data, their self esteem goes down the toilet, and their hard earned money is spent on items they’re told will make them happy and look more youthful, instead of stressing that beauty comes from the inside.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..Reflecting On Our Online Presence
Christina Narciso responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 1:43 am →
Vered- Thank you for addressing the mixed messages that women’s magazines have been producing. Even young teen magazines like Seventeen magazine start with “tips on getting your crush to fall in love” and “get fit” articles. Love this post.
Adrenalynn responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 2:03 am →
You know? I don’t mind the ridiculously skinny models. They have stupid jobs and are only there to show off the pretty clothes, which works for me. Plus; super-skinny isn’t very hot.
I also think that we should try to make our men feel good and boost their self esteem whenever we can. I don’t say enough nice things to my husband, and reading your point no. 9 actually made me think that I should remember to do that today. Of course, I believe men should do the same for us, but we can only control what we do ourselves. What better way to care for a relationship than to admire the one you’re with, despite their flaws? If I tell my husband how great I think he is, will he not try to be an even better person and husband? I know I would. And I like it when he takes care of me, even though I can take care of myself. And he knows that, too.
Tara@From Dawn Till Rusk responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 3:04 am →
I totally agree with all of those comments and get I still require a ‘fix’ of glossy mags. The trick is not to take them seriously - it’s the best laugh I have all week.
And what does it mean for the men that read them? My husband can’t resist flicking through but when I challenge him on it he says “I was just bored, flicking through and looking at the pictures”. Tcha! I saw you linger on the picture spread of Brangelina’s brood!
Tara@From Dawn Till Rusk’s last blog post..Am I the only one with fond memories of 9/11?
Lance responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 3:10 am →
We used to get a copy of “Fitness” here. So, I’d page through it every now and then. The titles always conveyed losing weight to “look” better. It was about feeling better on the inside, or having a higher quality of life. Probably because image sells. What sounds better - “Get a Bikini Body in Six Weeks” or “Eat Healthy, Exercise Regularly, And Improve the Quality of Your Life”. In our want it now society, I wager to bet that the first title would sell more magazines. And yet, the truth is - all it creates is people who become depressed because they don’t get the magazine picture body after six weeks. So, try the next one that comes out - to similar results. A downward spiral.
As the father of a daughter, I don’t want her reading these magazines - ever. I want her to be confident in herself and her abilities - not on the reliance of her “looks” or her “man”.
Lance’s last blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day
Avital responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 3:51 am →
Agreed. There is no doubt about it, the magazines are trying to manipulate the women’s minds. They are financed (hell, they are profiting lucratively) by selling advertisements and are trying to convey the message of their benefactors throughout the magazine. They do not always follow good journalism rules and the messages they are sending are so mixed that there is nothing an intelligent person can derive from them. So, yes. I agree.
Evelyn Lim | Attraction Mind Map responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 4:38 am →
I’ve often wondered why I’m dysfunctional, got low self esteem and totally like a bimbo! You’ve just explained why! The question is how do I prevent my daughters from reading such trash as they grow up?
Evelyn Lim | Attraction Mind Map’s last blog post..An Enchanting Vision From My Angels
Emma responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 4:39 am →
Fantastic article, very well thought out and written. I rarely read magazines for many of these reasons - now I have more reason to hate them than ever!
PeaceLoveJoyBliss responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 4:44 am →
I have to wonder: are the magazines responding to a market of women who want this stuff or are the magazines driving the market to compel women to want it? If the former, then who am I to say “no, ladies, but you can’t have this, that, or the other thing”? If the latter, then what would this say about women’s capacity to choose their own fashion destinies? I’d like to think that they can choose them.
Christopher
Beshlie responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 5:16 am →
Absolutely agree and am sending your comments to all my female friends and my three daughters! My youngest has suffered badly with anorexia and tells me plainly that the skinny impossibly perfect images in these mags definitely helped worsen her condition plus the endless diet tips. She has written to the PM about it and is eagerly awaiting a reply!
Dominique responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 5:24 am →
Hi Vered,
Interesting stand on Women’s magazine. I agree that the messages that they try to convey as confusing and somewhat distorted. I read those magazines off and on and have lost interested in following the latest trends/fads as it is simply a waste of money. I rather spend the money on the kids or something more educational.
Dominique’s last blog post..My cunning little baby
Dave Fowler responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 5:50 am →
Hi Vered, You make some fantastic points, but I guess it depends on your mindset – and maybe therein lies the problem – however I’ve always seen these kind of magazines as comics. The images they project are so far from reality that I struggle to understand how anyone could take them seriously. Obviously people do and I don’t judge them for that and I’m not claiming to be in any way superior but I personally don’t worry too much about it. I wouldn’t have a problem with my children seeing these magazines but maybe that will be a decision I may live to regret. Again, not judging, just trying to think through the issues aloud (if you know what I mean).
Dave
Suzie responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 5:55 am →
I hate those mags. They also smell so badly with all the perfume samples I cant handle it.
Suzie’s last blog post..Dinner and Keanu
Writer Dad responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 6:07 am →
I agree with everything; except for the use of the word “subtle.”
Writer Dad’s last blog post..Poop. Put it in the Potty
Urban Panther responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 6:09 am →
Actually, it honestly depends on the magazine. I won’t buy Shape. They have all these articles on being healthy and then show uber skinny models. However, I have found a FANTASTIC women’s magazine called More. It is for women 40+, and it is totally realistic and down to earth. And it’s purely Canadian content, although it may be a spin off of an American one, I’m not sure. And although I don’t read Chatelaine anymore, it is another good one. I have stopped reading O (Oprah) only because I find it almost a bit depressing, but I never found anything unrealistic in there either.
Urban Panther’s last blog post..To poo or not to poo, that is the question.
Lin responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 6:10 am →
Vered, I couldn’t agree with you more. Women’s magazines and many teen magazines send ridiculous mixed messages.
It’s no wonder women and teen girls struggle with self-esteem and eating disorders in order to have the “perfect body” or attempt to look like the models shown in ads. Eating disorders like anorexia and bulemia are affecting so many teens and young adult women, it’s sickening to see how magazines for women and teens get away with projecting a ridiculous and unhealthy body image.
Lin’s last blog post..2008 Christmas Hot Toys - Hot Toys for Christmas 2008
Dot responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 6:41 am →
Hi Vered,
I grew up on women’s magazines, and I blush to admit that my Woman’s Day subscription just expired. At least I’m not renewing it, though. My mother read women’s magazines all the time, and she (and my friends and I)internalized their negative messages. She was always telling me how hard it was to “bolster a man’s ego,” which she felt was part of the job of being a wife, as the magazines and other cultural influences told her.
I would add two more reasons. Well, one of them has been touched upon in the comments — there is always a cake or other elaborate dessert on the cover and always information about dieting on the cover. A bit of a mixed message. Second, I spent many of my young years trying to duplicate the makeup advice, until it eventually dawned on me that the makeup section is really a display of new products, and the advice was probably deliberately vague and confusing so that you’d have to consult a “beauty expert” in the stores.
Shilpan | successsoul.com responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 6:49 am →
Vered - These magazines ALL have one common goal - Sell stuff that you don’t want. We are a nation of ‘consumption addiction’ and these magazines contribute a great deal to this growing addiction.
Shilpan | successsoul.com’s last blog post..Charlie Chaplin’s Guide to Picking Yourself Up When Life Knocks You Down
Stacey / CreateaBalance responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 6:50 am →
I never understood these magazines. I rarely looked at them growing up….probably b/c I couldn’t relate to them. I have two boys, but if I had girls I would be concerned that eventually they would read these magazines. Sometimes I just want to shake our culture upside down!
Kelly@SHE-POWER responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 6:57 am →
Agree. Agree. Agree. Womens magazines are no good for us at all. Except for rare examples of quality reporting about womens issues in publications like Marie Claire, there is a primary focus on over-priced beauty products and clothes, dieting, how to win and keep a man, celebrities and their clothes and men, and the all important “how to give blow-jobs like a pro”.
Is it any wonder young women today wear t-shirts labeling themselves porn stars and want to learn how to pole dance? As PINK so eloquently says, “What happened to the dream of a girl president? She’s dancin’ in the video next to 50 Cent…”
Kelly
Kelly@SHE-POWER’s last blog post..Kickstart Your Brain With 21 TRUE Trivia Tidbits
Bunny got Blog responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 7:28 am →
I agree totally with you . I switched to reading men magazines just to carry a conversation with a group. basically male co-workers.
Then after reading rather or not women settle for Mr. Good enough after they turn 30, I started my blog.
I like your article very much.
Keep up the good work
Bunny got Blog’s last blog post..Bunny’s Bucket List - In Celebration of Dave Freeman’s Life
phyllis responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 7:36 am →
agree 100%.
sometimes i feel the same way about the parenting magazines.
phyllis’s last blog post..18 months going on 18!?
MizFit responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 7:42 am →
devils advocate here.
I LOVE magazine.
a lot.
I love reading about trends even if I choose (which I typically do) not to partake.
for some reason (which I am trying to figure out…for me and for my ToddlerDaughter) I gloss over them telling me what to do.
I ignore it and never had seen it as a decree (from being skinny to how I should parent) but rolled by eyes and moved onward with my life.
which speaking of is YANKING ON MY PANT LEG AND WHINING.
toddler calls.
MizFit’s last blog post..Monday Facetime. Bent Over Row: The Dress Returns.
Akhila responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 7:44 am →
Thank you for your post. It is thought provoking. Several things struck me as I read what you had written and the comments people like me made.
One, Why, why is there this suggestion that women need a separate magazine? Almost as if women can’t read or enjoy or ponder over non-gendered magazines.
Second thought: All these are like adverts: Never be satisfied; you are nothing if you do not buy this product that is designed to make: others envious; you the hero(ine) of the hour and
Third: Like ads, like films made in Hollywood, in India (where I am from) it is all about maintaining status quo… very like that sketch of the man in bed and the woman serving… make sure that everything is used: environment, science, social equity….. use all of this cleverly to make sure nothing ever changes fundamentally. Ever. regards Akhila
zoe responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 7:59 am →
Well I don’t read them because they just don’t relate to my life. Even if I were straight, I don’t think they’d appeal to me. I’d rather read about thing like architecture, hockey, kayaking, backpacking…fun stuff. I don’t often read gay/lesbian magazines either, unless they have an interview I want to read.
zoe’s last blog post..How Things Get Done Around Here
Becky responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 8:20 am →
*nods head*
Well said.
RC responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 8:22 am →
You know, I just realized I haven’t read a “women’s magazine” in ages… These days it is parenting magazines and Reader’s Digest. Oh, and a little Consumer Reports thrown in… Yes, I know, I’m boring, but I think I got sick of the content, too.
Oh, and parenting magazines tend to make me cringe when they go on and on regarding the “must-have” toys, furniture, accessories or bedding for your child. Um, yeah… My child is being raised on a budget - we shop resale, rummage sales, clearance and store-brand. Yes, I am unfashionable and am living with it.
(It isn’t that my child never has the latest and greatest, but we are pretty picky about how we are going to spend our money, so we really have to see a benefit to pay close to full-price or buy something name-brand. Or my child’s relatives have to be feeling generous…)
RC’s last blog post..Memory of Trees
Miranda responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 8:25 am →
I have never read women’s magazines. Not necessarily due to the reasons that you give in this post (although they are excellent reasons), but because I just don’t find them that interesting.
Miranda’s last blog post..Taxpayers: You Are Now on the Hook for Fannie and Freddie
Nathalie Lussier from Billionaire Woman responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 8:45 am →
Wow, I couldn’t agree more. I often feel worse after I read magazines than before I started!
Thank you for encouraging women to read alternative articles, those that will actually help them instead of brainwash them! It is also helps the wallet, since spending horrendous amounts on handbags, shoes and other accessories is really a waste.
Way to go Vered!
Nathalie Lussier from Billionaire Woman’s last blog post..One Number That Has The Power to Change Your Life
Fiona responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 9:19 am →
Also add - they push motherhood. I’m a writer and approached several magazines about writing a piece for women coming to terms with infertility and showing that you can be happy without children. Their response? Not interested because there is no “happy ending” to it!
Plus the articles are so bland most of the time. A fellow writer recently pointed out something I hadn’t considered - women’s magazines rarely carry good travel articles.
I also love the “love yourself whatever size you are” messages coupled with diet pill ads.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 9:32 am →
@ Julie Amar: “I do not read women’s magazines, but all of the other media outlets spew enough of the same” – sadly, this is very true. I am tired of these messages too and am really upset that despite all that women have achieved, my daughters (6 and
will STILL have to face these messages when they are teenagers.
@ Vintage Mommy: I went through the same stages – I did use to read women’s magazines and moved on to “fitness” magazines only to realize they were not really any better.
@ Barbara: I completely agree that reading one of these magazines has the effect of lowering a woman’s self esteem.
@ Christina: Targeting teens with these messages is the most disturbing.
@ Adrenalynn: Needless to say, we will have to agree to disagree… but I do appreciate that you spoke your mind.
@ Tara: It IS funny when men read these magazines.
@ Lance: “As the father of a daughter, I don’t want her reading these magazines - ever.” Me too. I’m not sure we are going to be able to stop them from reading them, though. I think the best we can do is build up their self esteem as much as we can while they are still young enough to actually listen to us.
@ Avital: “the messages they are sending are so mixed that there is nothing an intelligent person can derive from them”. Amen to that! Very well said.
@ Evelyn: Now you know.
“The question is how do I prevent my daughters from reading such trash as they grow up?” I wish I knew. As I told Lance, I suspect the best we can do is address self-esteem issues now, before they stop listening to us.
@ Emma: Thank you for your comment! I don’t know why it took me so many years to realize I should stop reading these magazines. I read them throughout my teens and twenties.
@ PeaceLoveJoyBliss: Good questions. I don’t know! Thinking back to the times I used to read them, I don’t think I was actively looking for that type of content, but it was there, colorful and glossy and full of promise to make me feel better about myself. So I bought into that.
@ Beshlie: I’m very sorry about your daughters’ anorexia. I hope she’s completely recovered. I have two young daughters (6 and
and this really scares me.
@ Dominique: I agree that following the latest trends is a huge waste of money. The way designers make sure that women who want to be current HAVE to purchase new items every season is very smart and very good for the fashion industry, but not so good for women’s budgets.
@ Dave Fowler: You’re making a very good point. I think that the main problem is, somehow, seeing those perfect airbrushed images does have an effect on us flawed mortals, even if we know they’re fake. Teen girls are especially susceptible.
@ Suzie: The perfume samples ARE annoying.
@ Writer Dad: You’re right. I shouldn’t have said “subtle”!
@ Urban Panther: I’m not familiar with More or with Chatelaine, and have never read Oprah’s magazine. Thank you for adding your point of view!
@ Lin: “it’s sickening to see how magazines for women and teens get away with projecting a ridiculous and unhealthy body image.” It really is. Sickening, and scary.
@ Dot: “the makeup section is really a display of new products” – very truw, and the same goes for many “articles” that in fact are just ads in disguise.
@ Shilpan: It’s very true that it’s all about selling us stuff that we absolutely don’t need.
@ Stacey: “Sometimes I just want to shake our culture upside down!” ME TOO!
@ Kelly: Very well said! It’s sad, really.
@ Bunny got Blog: “Then after reading rather or not women settle for Mr. Good enough after they turn 30, I started my blog.” Ha. You’re smart.
@ phyllis: Agree on parenting magazines. Stopped reading them too!
@ MizFit: I think it’s great that you were always able to ignore the messages and just enjoy the aesthetics. Unfortunately, many women are unable to do that.
@ Akhila: “make sure nothing ever changes fundamentally. Ever.” This is very true and very disturbing. It is disturbing that despite achieving SO MUCH, women are still expected to conform to certain norms and expectations that undoubtedly hold them back.
@ zoe: Despite being a feminist, I do like fashion. I love aesthetics. So, these magazines do appeal to me on some level. I used to LOVE reading Vogue because the fashion spreads – even the ads – are simply gorgeous. However, I slowly realized that the way models looked, and the price tags of the items featured, were plain ridiculous – and damaging.
@ Becky:
@ RC: I agree with Phyllis who said above that parenting magazines often suffer from similar issues. I agree about the “must have” nonsense, and I also think that they can really make you feel inadequate as a parent.
@ Miranda: So, you feel like zoe. I get what you say. It’s different for me. I really do love fashion. I just wish that love of fashion and aesthetics didn’t have to be tied with those demeaning messages. I think it’s totally unnecessary.
@ Nathalie: The message that you should spend thousands of dollars each year on clothes and accessories, instead of saving or investing this money, is one of the most dangerous messages out there. Women are already at a disadvantage financially because they still earn less than men do. If they don’t start saving aggressively and early, they are putting their financial future at risk.
@ Fiona: Totally agree about the blandness of the articles. I can’t say I’m surprised that they refused your article. There’s certainly the message that a woman must be married and have children to be happy. How fifties.
Kim Woodbridge responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 10:00 am →
I agree with @Suzie about the perfume samples. The smell makes me sick to my stomach. And @phyllis is right about parenting magazines. I subscribed to them before and after my daughter was born and very rarely did I get useful information from them. Instead I felt like an inadequate parent.
I liked women’s magazines when I was 11-15 years old and usually looked at my mothers’. The magazines have a much stronger influence then we realize. When I was 11 I shaved all the hair off my arms because it didn’t look the models in the magazine had air on their arms. Only later did I learn about airbrushing.
Now I am more interested in technology and video games then fashion and how to get man so I tend to read publications like Wired and Edge. I find, however, that now I am fighting the misogynistic attitude often displayed in a more “male” oriented magazine.
Natural responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 10:29 am →
Vered this post right here is the truth dot com! I dislike no. 2 and no 9…I rolled my eyes so far in the back of my head they fell out of my neck. I’m much too much of my own person to allow women magazines to dictate what I should be doing or wearing. My hair is not in “style”, my clothes are conservative but classy (old), a hand bag? I have 2 and my momma bought one of them. Diet? I need a life style change for health reasons considering my family history. I don’t wear make up everyday either, more like for special occasions. I don’t care if my shoes are not in style, I wear shoes that fit…don’t care whose name is on them, they are mine now. I totally agree. I prefer to read psychology, writing and investment magazines…nobody cares what you look like if you’re smart, rich, writer. LOL Why am I late to the party?
Natural’s last blog post..Butt-to-Gutt Ratio Gone Wild
SpaceAgeSage responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 11:23 am →
I never enjoyed reading women’s magazines because they never fit me as a Mad-Magazine reading, intellectual, tomboy farm girl who grew up to be a third degree black belt, EMT, and freelance writer and journalist who is happily married to my soul-mate husband now 15 years. (Now that’s a niche for ya!)
Until women start valuing themselves and learning to combat insecurity instead of each other (i.e. abortion issues, status, religion), many of us will continue to be enticed by the what someone else is calling “pretty” at this moment.
Author John Eldredge (Wild at Heart) writes that one deep root of women’s soul is the desire to be seen as beautiful. I know we all value more than that — more than he explains — but that lure seems to run through pre-marketing history as well and not just because of a male-dominated history of mankind. I just wish we all valued strength, poise, resiliency, and the ability to lead, find consensus, and create change instead of falling for the bait cleverly concealed in the magazine hook.
SpaceAgeSage’s last blog post..Five things 15 years of marriage have taught me
Friar responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 11:33 am →
Don’t forget the covers of Cosmo: Constant sex-tips of how to drive your man crazy in bed.
(No, I DON’T READ Cosmo…I just can’t help glancing at the magazine covers when I’m in the supermarket standing in line).
PS. I really love Number 7. Ahahahahah!
What a HELMET-HEAD!
Friar’s last blog post..Fishing while Striving for Excellence
Cath Lawson responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 11:51 am →
Hi Vered - I stopped reading women’s magazines ages ago for many of the reasons you’ve given. And also because I’m tired of reading the same old rehashed content.
I totally agree - the handbags and shoes featured in many of them are outrageous in price and I hate the way they encourage the average women that it is the norm to pay those prices.
Also, much of the content is advertising in disguise - particularly the beauty product reviews etc.
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..47 Brilliant Blog Marketing Resources
apricot tea. responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 11:53 am →
I couldn’t have said this better. I actually did a post not too long ago on my own blog about how much I loathe women’s magazines these days. But I hardly covered the ground you did here.
I 100% agree with you. & while I do agree, I feel a little sad, because it would be nice to belong to a subscription of a decent magazine. I would like to think that there are well rounded magazines out there, but with each one that I have read, I become more & more disappointed.
Do you have any suggestions on a type of magazine that is worth reading? & if not, what are other alternatives? Books, maybe?
I really enjoyed this article. :] thank you so much for sharing.
apricot tea.’s last blog post..apricot’s closet: fishnets.
Dave Fowler responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 12:50 pm →
Vered – As always, thanks for the personal response. I liked your response to Lance. That’s the approach I’m going to take. I feel that I can’t shield my children from every ill the world contains, so it’s better that I teach them to deal with it. At least having the issue out in the open and up for discussion allows me the chance to influence my children in an open and honest way.
This is a great topic for discussion, and you’ve presented it very well. I’ve enjoyed reading the comments. Great stuff Vered!!
Carla responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 1:15 pm →
I used to read women’s magazines (mostly fashion magazines: Vogue, Vogue Paris, Elle, etc.) mostly for the fashion spreads, clothing, etc. Glamour started sending me a comp subscription to their magazine that I didnt request, but I was impressed with some of the ‘what to wear’ articles when they featured plus sized models and average women. NOT the typical so-called plus sized women who are a size 10, but women who are a size 18, 22, etc. They are few and far between but it’s a start.
I typically stay away from them (for the most part) and now satisfy my love of fashion through forums and blogs.
Carla’s last blog post..September update
Carla responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 1:29 pm →
Fiona - Great point
I have read probably a dozen magazine and newspaper articles on infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, in publications from San Francisco Chronicle to Marie Claire to Mothering Magazine and they ALL end on a “happy note”: a baby. I have posed the question as to why all articles, stories, essays that have to do with the above always end with a baby. No one is interested in the topic of life after infertility and/or loss that doesnt end with a child, biological or adopted. The New York Times recently dared to cross that path, but I still don’t see anyone else jumping on the bandwagon anytime soon.
Carla’s last blog post..September update
feefifoto responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 1:54 pm →
While you’re at it, add People magazine to the list, for encouraging readers to believe that if you ain’t famous, you ain’t nothin’.
feefifoto’s last blog post..McCain Vs. Obama
Andre Kibbe responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 2:01 pm →
Excellent observations. And more than a few a them apply to men’s magazines as well (if inversely). Gender should be a state a being, not a role.
Chris responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 2:08 pm →
I guess they can make more money saying all these garbage…It’s more about our intelligence really, we never look at these magazines or advertisements critically. We just look at the pictures and say WOW…
Chris’s last blog post..A Friend In Need…, Part 8
Sara at On Simplicity responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 2:20 pm →
Gave ‘em up a couple of years ago and haven’t missed them since. I do read Cosmo after my mother-in-law’s done with it. My husband and I like to pick apart the contradictory advice given within a single issue. He hates Cosmo with a passion because every month, without fail, they’ll include a tip that is completely degrading to men. I’ll give the mags this, though: they do an excellent job of keeping our marriage healthy, because we bond over trashing the advice. And I can’t take the ads and product placement either.
Sara at On Simplicity’s last blog post..Three Traits You’d Want People to Remember You By
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 2:55 pm →
@ Kim: “The magazines have a much stronger influence then we realize. When I was 11 I shaved all the hair off my arms because it didn’t look the models in the magazine had air on their arms. Only later did I learn about airbrushing.” WOW. That’s an incredible story and a perfect example of how magazines influence young girls. Thank you for sharing it.
@ Natural: I too read personal finance magazines but I have to say that they too are usually disappointing. I guess magazines just often feature low-quality content.
@ SpaceAgeSage: I agree that beauty has always been an ideal, and more so for women than for men. I also agree that it’s not really changing, despite progress in other areas.
@ Friar: I know… I used to READ COSMO when I was a teen. (Blush).
@ Cath: It’s very true that much of the content is ads in disguise. It’s true for the beauty product reviews, and also the fashion spreads.
@ apricot tea: Sure, books are great, but if you’re looking for something lighter, I say ditch magazines and read blogs. That’s what I do.
@ Dave: “I can’t shield my children from every ill the world contains, so it’s better that I teach them to deal with it.” Absolutely agree – and I hope that whatever we teach them will stay with them even as they enter their teenage years.
@ Carla: I love fashion too. I just wish it wasn’t (almost) always about 15 years old skinny airbrushed models and $1000 shoes. Re babies, I believe that the underlying message is “a woman can only be happy and fulfilled if she’s marries and has babies”.
@ feefifoto: True, and also for making us think that celebs are happy and should be our role models.
@ Andre: “Gender should be a state a being, not a role.” Maybe some day it will, but probably not in our lifetime.
@ Chris: I agree that the fact that people are buying these magazines says a lot about us.
@ Sara: “He hates Cosmo with a passion because every month, without fail, they’ll include a tip that is completely degrading to men.” I haven’t noticed that – but I believe him, and can’t say I’m surprised!
Rita responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 4:37 pm →
Vered,
Of all of your blogs, of “lists,” this one is my all-time favorite. Having worked in this industry for SOOO long, you have captured the flaws of the”shelter” magazines, the “women’s magazines” and the “women’s health magazines” all in one. (The only women’s magazines that I believe belong on the list as well are the “Bridal Magazines,” which tell you how to spend your honeymoon…umm, if you don’t know, why are you getting married? And they’re just an excuse to show-off dresses that nobody can afford.)
This is fantastic. and though I read all 10, I must tell you that I only needed one reason: they’re awful!
Thanks for this blog. WAAAAY overdue, and I’m glad you posted it!
Rita
Bamboo Forest responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 5:50 pm →
I think these sorts of magazines express a lot of unhealthy philosophies.
The ones that stand out in my mind are the super-thin models which I don’t always find attractive. The other is the obsession with aging. It’s ridiculous. Far more important to live a meaningful, thoughtful life - than to obsess over aging. Everyone ages. It’s a mute point.
Bamboo Forest’s last blog post..The Stain Demon Can and Will Taint Your Life
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 6:44 pm →
@ Rita: Glad you like it. My list post are lots of fun to write but I do try not to overdo them. Agree about bridal magazines - I never read one, but it’s enough to see the cover to know that the content is low quality.
@ Bamboo Forest: It’s refreshing to hear a guy say that super-thin is not necessarily attractive. As for aging, it’s no secret to anyone who reads this blog that I’m having trouble with it. although 30 seems a tad early to start worrying about it.
I really like your perspective.
Carolee responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 7:34 pm →
What I don’t understand is how these magazines can have articles about gaining self-confidence and how every woman is beautiful on one page, a 3 week only-drink-water-and-eat-a-carrot diet on the next page, and a recipe for 1,000 calorie a slice cake afterward. I can’t read those magazines anymore because they usually do more harm than good, especially to vulnerable teens and tweens.
Theramblinghousewife responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 8:00 pm →
Reason #11
They interfere with the important things in life . . . .Like, say . . . .blogging!!!
Duh!
Theramblinghousewife’s last blog post..Questions
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 8:20 pm →
@ Carolee: I know. It’s crazy. Talk about mixed messages!
@ Theramblinghousewife: I definitely prefer blogging and reading blogs to reading magazines.
Friar responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 9:51 pm →
By the way, regarding the anorexic bean-pole models in (#1).
Tell me, just WHO finds that attractive?
As a guy, I can tell you I certainly don’t.
It’s safe to say that none of my buddies would either.
And normal women are just pissed off at the whole concept.
So just WHO keeps perpetuating the myth that it’s okay to look like a concentration-camp victim?
And why do we keep listening to them?
Friar’s last blog post..How to be a Tortured Intellectual
J.D. Meier responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 10:54 pm →
You mean if I read women’s magazines, I too could have hair like #7? Wow.
If you want a magazine that makes you think, check out Harvard Business Review. I happened to flip through an issue and it changed my life.
J.D. Meier’s last blog post..3 Myths About Strengths and Weaknesses
Adrenalynn responds:
Posted: September 8th, 2008 at 11:56 pm →
Actually, I do kind of agree with you- my values and self worth are not easily influenced by these magazines now, but that was not the case when I was younger. This is just one of the reasons I’m glad I only have sons! Of course, I also have to be aware of what influences them, but I feel that girls are more of an easy target; at least in regards to body image. We tend to be so insecure. Although I don’t agree with you 100%, this was a great post!
Adrenalynn’s last blog post..The good conversation
Robin responds:
Posted: September 9th, 2008 at 12:33 am →
Hi Vered - I don’t ever read women’s magazines. EVER. Even Frank reads them more than I do, like today in the chiropractor’s waiting room (then again it was Who Weekly, not really a women’s magazine). I’m just not interested. See you!
Robin’s last blog post..Feelings Are There To Be Felt
Linda Abbit responds:
Posted: September 9th, 2008 at 12:49 am →
When I was in my teens I read Seventeen magazine and tried so very hard to look like the models. As Kim Woodbridge said, we didn’t know about airbrushing in those days, and we were trying for something no “normal girl” could obtain. Don’t know when I learned about the fakery in these mags, but I haven’t read a women’s magazine for years, and don’t miss them. I don’t like to cook, and don’t want to read recipes either!
Aside from the magazines, however, this society is sending terrible messages to young women in many other ways (some of which you’ve blogged about before), and that is why so many parents (Moms most likely) are allowing their children to dress like prosti-tots! Disgusting! I’m glad I had a boy and didn’t have to deal with a young girl’s self-image issues as she grows into womanhood.
Amen! Stumbled.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 9th, 2008 at 8:27 am →
@ Friar: Great questions. I’m not sure. I do know that most guys think it’s unattractive.
@ J.D. Meier: Ha. You like that hair, don’t you?
An issue of Harvard Business Review changed your life? Interesting. You’ll need to tell us about it in your blog (unless you wrote about it already?)
@ Adrenalynn: “my values and self worth are not easily influenced by these magazines now, but that was not the case when I was younger.” I can relate.
@ Robin: Smart choice.
@ Linda: “I’m glad I had a boy and didn’t have to deal with a young girl’s self-image issues as she grows into womanhood.” I will have to face that with my two daughters. It’s why I’m so frustrated with these messages. Thank you for the stumble! Much appreciated.
Rita responds:
Posted: September 9th, 2008 at 9:38 am →
Vered,
Wanted to let you know: last night, when the mail came in, my 17-year-old’s copy of “Cosmo Girl” - the “teen” Cosmo was there. Your blog got us talking, I asked her to go through the magazine and pick out the outfit she most liked. 5 minutes later, she was back, and said, “Ma, these women all dress like tramps - I want to cancel the subscption.
Thanks for helping to provide a REAL LIFE, wonderful mother-daughter talk!
Rita
Ellen Wilson responds:
Posted: September 9th, 2008 at 12:20 pm →
You know how I love this stuff! Especially 9. Was this a recent thing? Or did you glean it from a current magazine? Ah, yes. Let’s just feed the male narcissistic fantasy that has already thrown the world into an unhealthy balance.
Sorry. I don’t take a bake (what a slip!) back seat to any man. Is this why women are more quiet at parties? Or anywhere for that matter?
You know, an interesting thing I heard about women. As they get older they tend to become feminists. Or at least realize how the world will treat them. But it is the younger women who think they can “play” the world. Until they find our how sorely it plays them. Sad when you think about it. But for many age does bring wisdom.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..My Social Experiment: RSS Numbers
Wendi Kelly-Life's Little Inspirations responds:
Posted: September 9th, 2008 at 1:04 pm →
I hadn’t read them in years and then helped my Mom out at her beauty shop this summer and was paging through some of them and was horrified!
I like Cooking Light on Line. That is the only one I look at. I don’t have any that come to the house. Why hurt a tree when you can read them on the computer now?
Wendi Kelly-Life’s Little Inspirations’s last blog post..The Power of Your Secret Weapon
Steve responds:
Posted: September 9th, 2008 at 2:29 pm →
well done! This list is great and hits on many problems with media aimed at women today. Thanks for the post!
Steve’s last blog post..Bomb The Blogosphere: Georgia V Russia (With Apologies to Edwin Starr)
Ananya Walia responds:
Posted: September 9th, 2008 at 2:52 pm →
Well, more men read Cosmopolitan for example than women. So one wonders if the target audience for women magazines are really women?!
Ananya Walia’s last blog post..Making Choice Between Puppy And Adult Dog: Learn How To Achieve
Al at 7P responds:
Posted: September 9th, 2008 at 9:26 pm →
Seems like women’s magazines are going from bad to worse. I’m not sure where the breaking point is, but the trend isn’t sustainable.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 9th, 2008 at 9:30 pm →
@ Rita: I’m so glad this post inspired a real-life discussion. Thank you for letting me know.
@ Ellen: I became a feminist at a very young age (13). But I agree that many young women are reluctant to define themselves as feminists – until they realize, as you say, that they can’t play the world.
@ Wendi: “Why hurt a tree when you can read them on the computer now?” This is a very good point.
@ Steve: Glad you liked it.
@ Ananya: I think they do target women, but Cosmo has so much sex-related content and provocative photos, that I can see how a straight man would find it interesting.
@ Al: “the trend isn’t sustainable” - I certainly hope so!
angelie responds:
Posted: September 9th, 2008 at 11:21 pm →
Although I must say I read these magazines for (gasp) fun and have an artistic appreciation of fashion, I must say that it is refreshing to hear that other women don’t buy this ideology either…Once for an editing class I did a study on women’s magazines and men’s “fashion and lifestyle” magazines like Maxim, etc. It was astonishing to find that the men’s magazines were actually more respectful towards women–both verbally and visually.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 10th, 2008 at 12:47 pm →
@ angelie: I do enjoy the aesthetics of fashion - a lot. That’s part of my frustration: I want to enjoy fashion without being subjected to these images and messages.
Carla responds:
Posted: September 10th, 2008 at 1:55 pm →
“I do enjoy the aesthetics of fashion - a lot. That’s part of my frustration: I want to enjoy fashion without being subjected to these images and messages.”
Vered,
I hear you on that one. I love fashion too, but I can do w/o the messages. Sticking to foreign language fashion magazines helps (plus, they don’t have the annoying articles the more lifestyle oriented magazines have, but you still have the images.
Carla’s last blog post..Fear of blogging
Connie responds:
Posted: September 10th, 2008 at 2:27 pm →
interesting. i read these magazines, but now i see them in a different light.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 10th, 2008 at 4:56 pm →
@ Carla: I like the idea of foreign language magazines… although I suspect they too use super skinny, starved, airbrushed models.
@ Connie: Good!
Brittany responds:
Posted: September 10th, 2008 at 5:04 pm →
I completely agree with you. I don’t buy magazines at all anymore unless it’s a music magazine.
I think society needs to accept women for the sizes they actually are. We need models that are real women’s sizes like size 10 and size 12 models. Even a size 8 or 6 would be better than the size 0 models they currently use.
And then, they need a real nutritionist to write articles on how to eat healthy instead of the “miracle” diets that supposedly work in a week.
After that, they need to start promoting equality of men and women.
That’s how I feel.
But I’m still young, so what do I know? (sarcasm)
Kat responds:
Posted: September 10th, 2008 at 5:19 pm →
While I agree with you 100%, your last entry appears to be an independent site, not affiliated with magazine Woman’s World.
You might just want to take that out for credibility’s sake.
Rachel responds:
Posted: September 10th, 2008 at 6:18 pm →
I am very proud to say that I do NOT read any fashion or gossip mags… anymore. However, as a child of the 80’s, I must confessed that I didn’t start out that way. When i was an emerging teenager and throughout high school, I fully admit that I maintained a subscription to Seventeen Magazine, (although my interest was primarily for the purpose of learning to draw faces, (and let me tell you, there is nothing like good close-ups of models’ faces to show the intricate details of the human eye)).
Once I reached college, however, I completely lost interest in the Fashionista. For me, it was always just too taxing to keep up with that ridiculous standard of beauty. Now, I find the whole industry laughable. It’s not worth the time or energy to read this garbage. It’s all such patriarchal drivel, replete with damaging stereotypes and double standards. I especially despise the advertisements.
Nowadays, the magazines that I generally splurge on reading and recommend to others are as follows: Utne Reader, Mother Earth News, E!, Natural Home & Garden and Eating Well.
On a side note, it is my hope that within the next few years, the vast majority of periodicals will be offered primarily as electronic versions. After all, human consumption of trees and production of paper waste is completely out of control!
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 10th, 2008 at 6:40 pm →
@ Brittany: I think it’s wonderful that you have such high awareness despite being young. Too many young women refuse to define themselves as feminist.
@ Kat: Thank you, Kat. You are correct. I decided not to take it out, because as a general rule I prefer not to edit articles after they are published, but I am including your comment in the article itself because I did make a mistake and it should be corrected (imagine that! I sometimes make mistakes).
@ Rachel: Wow. You said two things that are just SO TRUE. I don’t really have anything to add except to quote these two paragraphs from your comment:
“It’s all such patriarchal drivel, replete with damaging stereotypes and double standards. I especially despise the advertisements.”
“It is my hope that within the next few years, the vast majority of periodicals will be offered primarily as electronic versions. After all, human consumption of trees and production of paper waste is completely out of control!”
And say a BIG Amen to both.
Carla responds:
Posted: September 10th, 2008 at 7:03 pm →
@Rachel,
I do agree with the waste of paper, but as someone who works at a computer screen anywhere between ten and 14 hours a day, the last thing I want to do is read for leisure in front a lit machine for another 1-2 hours (especially in bed). Plus, its not very particle to bring my laptop everywhere I go. There must be a better way.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 10th, 2008 at 7:50 pm →
@ Carla: I haven’t thought about that! You’re making a good point. There MUST be a solution, though. Magazines ARE incredibly wasteful.
J.D. Meier responds:
Posted: September 10th, 2008 at 11:32 pm →
@Vered - I thought it was HBR — but it turns out it was ’strategy+business mag’ - here’s my post - http://blogs.msdn.com/jmeier/archive/2008/01/28/don-t-tell-ask.aspx .
That said, I learned good things from HBR too (http://blogs.msdn.com/jmeier/archive/2007/11/19/pattern-based-leadership-vs-fact-based-management.aspx ).
J.D. Meier’s last blog post..Social Loafing
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 11th, 2008 at 8:43 am →
@ J.D. Meier: “people don’t like to be told what to do and we’re wired to resist change.” Tell me about it. I work at a startup. We are trying to get people to use a new service for managing classrooms. “Resistant to change” is putting it mildly!
psi*psi responds:
Posted: September 11th, 2008 at 2:31 pm →
I agree with everything you posted! There’s only one magazine aimed at women I’ll read, and that’s Bitch. It’s insightful rather than fluffy and has very few ads.
Lucy responds:
Posted: September 11th, 2008 at 9:43 pm →
I have NEVER read women’s magazines because of the reasons listed in the article. I never recommended reading women’s magazines to any of my niece’s or young women I know. I never will, either.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 11th, 2008 at 10:09 pm →
@ psi*psi: insightful and few ads sounds great. I saw that the magazine’s tagline is “feminist response to pop culture”. I’m intrigued!
@ Lucy: You’re wise! I did read them during my teens and twenties, but not anymore.
» Friday Favorites : Ideas For Women Blog responds:
Posted: September 12th, 2008 at 7:02 am →
[…] at Mom Grind says: You Read Women’s Magazines? I’ll Give You Ten Reasons To Stop. I agree. Totally. Women’s magazines are bad. We are capable of so much […]
Denise responds:
Posted: September 12th, 2008 at 10:08 am →
I am an independent, self-sufficient single mother of three, and yes, I read my fair share of women’s magazines. Cosmo is a joke and I avoid that, but Marie-Claire, Glamour, and InStyle are some of my favorites. I like pretty clothes, doesn’t matter if I’m not as skinny as the models….they are the ones that are supposed to be clothes hangers, not me. I like makeup and am always up for directions about how to use it. I am intelligent enough to be able to pick and choose which “advice” is right for me. Honestly, since when does feminism mean denying your femininity?
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 12th, 2008 at 11:31 am →
@ Denise: I’m glad you made a comment. It’s good to hear a different opinion. I respect your point of view, but personally, I would like to enjoy fashion without being exposed to the messages listed in this article.
Carla responds:
Posted: September 12th, 2008 at 12:06 pm →
That’s the thing. I’m not abandoning my Vogue and Glamour but I would like to see larger women featured as part of the rule, not the exception “special issue/article”. I am not plus sized or overweight but I’m not a 00 either. The mindless articles don’t bother me, I just want the clothes.
Carla’s last blog post..Fire retardant chemicals found in toddlers’ blood
Dave Fowler responds:
Posted: September 12th, 2008 at 1:02 pm →
Carla, well said. I’m totally in favour of seeing real women in these magazines. It doesn’t matter the size of the women and nor do they have to fit the industry definition of beautiful. To be honest I find some, actually, MANY of the women currently in these magazines unattractive.
The women I see in normal everyday life, running busy homes with kids in tow are the real beauties. A kind of natural beauty i.e, as nature intended. The term ‘Plus sized models’ is a joke. They’re perfectly proportioned. It’s the magazine models who are disproportioned.
Sorry. I get the follow up comments through the feed and I couldn’t help but respond with a ranting approval.
Dave
junebug responds:
Posted: September 12th, 2008 at 7:08 pm →
You hit the nail on the head! I stopped reading those magazines shortly after I finished high school, when I began to realize how full of crap they were…
daretoeatapeach responds:
Posted: September 12th, 2008 at 7:18 pm →
I don’t often read fashion mags anymore. One holiday while I was visiting family I sat down and poked through my mom’s stack of Glamour/Marie Claire/Cosmo and I distinctly remember suddenly feeling like I needed to spend more time focusing on my wardrobe. It was uncanny. I was looking at the pictures and asking myself “Why don’t I look like that?” and “What do I need to do to look like that?” I suppose there are some women who feel like that all the time.
April responds:
Posted: September 13th, 2008 at 12:36 pm →
While I agree with everything you’ve said here, I have to admit, it’s not going to stop my shameless addiction to women’s magazines. *sigh* That being said - I don’t purchase them, instead I choose the longest line at the grocery store and read until it’s my turn at the register
April’s last blog post..Negative, Ghostrider.
BC Doan responds:
Posted: September 13th, 2008 at 6:25 pm →
I stop reading women magazine about two years ago, after observing the many same issues discussed it here! They are a waste of money, time, and implant wrong images of real women!
BC Doan’s last blog post..Pictures for the Second Week of September
bulgarian solicitors responds:
Posted: September 14th, 2008 at 1:13 pm →
Womens mags truly are a throwback to 50s feminism . Especially the bit about making sure your man is in charge, and thanking him afterwards. That kind of logic is dangerous and often leads to sentences like Thank you for knowing we were both in the mood for sex .
bulgarian solicitors’s last blog post..Bulgaria Lawmakers Pass Flat Tax Reform
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 14th, 2008 at 7:07 pm →
@ Carla: I agree about larger models. I would also like to see models of all ages and less airbrushing.
@ Dave: Oh, please don’t apologize! I LOVE men who say that they like NORMAL women as opposed to these unattainable images. “It’s the magazine models who are disproportioned.” – I completely agree.
@ junebug: You’re smarter than I am. It was still reading them in my twenties.
@ daretoeatapeach: “I was looking at the pictures and asking myself “Why don’t I look like that?” and “What do I need to do to look like that?” I think this is a common reaction. I feel the same.
@ April: “I choose the longest line at the grocery store and read until it’s my turn at the register”. That’s a good system.
@ BC Doan: I’m glad you stopped reading them. I wish I could convince every woman on the planet to stop reading them (ambitious, I know). Maybe if we all stopped buying them, they would finally change their content.
@ bulgarian solicitors: “making sure your man is in charge, and thanking him afterwards” – I agree: that bit of advice was especially disturbing.
Ashley responds:
Posted: September 14th, 2008 at 7:15 pm →
I completely disagree with this article. While it does bring up valid points — most of the quotes are taken out of context (and no, I do not work for magazines). Yes, there are bikini points but there are also points about loving yourself for who you are both inside and out. There are also many articles on self-esteem and raising it…and also real-lif