I work with women. I want to know what they’re concerned about. So while I’m at Barnes and Noble, why not look at the article titles in the magazine section labeled:
WOMEN’S INTERESTS
- 78 Ways To Turn Him On
- Hair Winners
- Fab New Vibrators
- What’s Sexy Now! – 85 Secret Tricks to Head Turning Confidence
- 1-2-3 Abs
- Budget Weddings
- Eat More, Weigh Less
- Bikini Confidence – Shrink Your Thighs and Butt – In Days
- Healthy Skin Now – Natural Ways to Lose Lines, Dark Circles and Dullness
- Feel Your Best – 10 Days to Boost Energy, Inner Confidence and Outer Radiance
- Weight Watchers
- Juicy – 1st Annual Hot Bodies Issue
- Dress To Perfect Your Shape – Find Clothes That Make You Instantly Slimmer and Sexier
These are a small portion of similar titles in magazines that were lined up behind the first row of mags and above the bottom shelf. No wonder there’s an epidemic of eating disorders, cosmetic surgery, and negative body image feelings.
I’m speechless and sad and angry at the information being fed to women. Granted, none of us has to read the magazines…and I didn’t. But our world is inundated with those messages. I’m driving and see a billboard with a picture of a woman’s torso that had a Scarlett O’Hara size waist and a virtually sunken stomach. The message – I could have that bod’ non-surgically if I went to some company for their non-invasive body-fixing treatments. Well, so much for being speechless.
Women-What ARE You Interested In?
Tell me in the comments what you’re interested in besides rolling around in a maid’s outfit (snark to Arnold) and satisfying the man in 78 different ways before you go to the gym for hours of work-out, deprive yourself of food you like, get procedures to fix-up your body and spend oodles of money on hair products. Not sure when there’s time for children, work or fun but hey, the false beauty image calls.
Again, would like to hear an interest you have that was not included on the magazine rack.
I would love to get to know you! Join me on 
I had a similar response to you when reading the women’s magazine I subscribe to, which sends mixed messages by including an article telling women to be happy with what they have, but others that emphasize everything that needs fixing. They deftly hide their criticism with a message that their advice is intended to improve health, not to nitpick. And, yes, health does improve when you do their quick-fix exercises to get ready for beach season or listen to Dr. Oz talk about defying age, but it seems like they are creating relentless pressure to find what is wrong and correct it. Most irritating were there little tips on the bottom of at least half the pages instructing readers on how to save 100 calories–eat olives instead of bread, swap cauliflower for potatoes. Talk about in-your-face! I think magazines need more articles on self-acceptance and fewer on self-improvement.
Crystal,
I agree wholeheartedly. Of course health is important but most of these articles are telling us that there’s something wrong with us if we don’t have a flat belly or small thighs. Even Dr. Oz’s talk about defying age and I say what’s wrong with our age – why must we defy it and continuously try to look younger than we are. Ridiculous and hard not to be affected by it.
Cherry, I stumbled across your blog today and am particularly delighted with this blog post! Thank you for highlighting one of the many ways that our society undermines women on a daily basis!
What am I interested in? Spirituality and the cycles of life, world peace and social justice, art and creative processes, travel and gardening, my dogs and my partner, and so much more! Thanks for asking . . . . I wish the publishers of more magazines would ask, too.
Tamara,
Glad you stumbled here.
I agree with you, which publishers of magazines would write more about our interests. But somebody, perhaps a lot of somebodies must be buying those magazines and, sadly, getting undermined in process. Cherry