I used to love reading women’s magazines. It was my break from homework and books for school. I’d catch up on the latest fashion trends, read an interesting article and get a few beauty tips.
But then I remember reading an odd tip from a writer on not eating an entire piece of cake: She’d take a bite — maybe two — and then pour salt on it.
And that’s when I started realizing that maybe these magazines weren’t for me (or really for anyone). Maybe these magazines had become a slippery slope into a world of shoulds and damaging thoughts.
And the more I started dissecting their messages, the more I realized that that’s the whole point: to sell us specific standards, so we buy, buy, buy.
That’s why I’m excited to share my interview with Jennifer Nelson, the author of Airbrushed Nation: The Lure and Loathing of Women’s Magazines, a new book about the history of the women’s magazine industry, how articles are made (and manipulated) and their effects on readers.
Below, Nelson shares what inspired her to write Airbrushed Nation, the research that surprised her most and the damaging effects of reading these publications.
Before posting, please read our blog moderation guidelines. The comments below begin with the oldest comments first. Click on the last comments page to jump to the most recent comments.
Before posting, please read our blog moderation guidelines.
Post a Comment:
Copyright © 1995-2013 Psych Central. All rights reserved.
Site last updated: 20 May 2013
|
I just finished this book and it was FANTASTIC! Awesome writing and very interesting. I’m glad my library carried it so I was able to read such an important book!
I haven’t read the book, so I don’t know whether the author ever accepted any responsibility for her contributions to the objectionable content and focus of the chick slicks (her term). These magazines would disappear if women didn’t buy them, which suggests that the self-improvement message is one that women want enough to pay cash on the barrelhead for it. So women are doing this to themselves, freely, without coercion. Let’s go ahead and point that blame finger where it belongs. We big girls take responsibilty for our actions. Whiny princess losers blame everyone else–men, society, culture. You can set yourself free any old time, ladies. What’s stopping you?
Also, the assertion that these magazines exist to encourage women to selflessly focus on their husbands and families with “nary a thought” of pleasing themselves is risible on its face. Is the author really trying to conflate Vogue and Good Housekeeping? Would advertisers buy space if this mendacious statement were actually true?