Do Women Magazines Empower Women?
Posted on December 22, 2008 in Current Affairs by Annie
Are you still picking up something which you think, represents you as a woman? Are you still picking up magazines like “Femina” or “Women’s Era”? Then, its time that you sit back and think about your picks. The reading habits of a woman represent the point of view she cultivates. Then let’s look at what these magazines tell us. Let’s look at what do you think. Let’s also look at what you should think.
While the names of these two magazines focus on women, what remains to be discussed is the way they focus on them. The presence of these two books in print might make you think positively about the progress that women have made. However, one look into the pages might be just enough to give you a clear picture of the reality. These women’s magazines DO NOT empower women in any way. And, you are doing a big mistake if you are getting carried away by their glossy pages.
Let’s discuss the way they “REPRESENT” women:
The primary focus in these magazines is beauty and fashion. Well, it is not wrong to do that. It is certainly wrong if they try to project that, this is what women are mostly interested in.
These also tell you something else and that is, “you are not beautiful enough”. It is only through the use of their products that you can be beautiful and attractive. Why do you need to be attractive? And for whom?
These magazines tell us that you need to be beautiful for your “MAN”. The need to be beautiful is not to “feel good” about yourself, but to seduce men. They tell us that, she who is the most seductive is the most beautiful woman.
What one also needs to look at, is the pictures that these magazines flash. They are usually flashy magazines of “successful women”. These successful women belong to high classes who can afford to live the life-styles which these magazines represent. What happens to people who cannot afford to have such lifestyles?
If you read your magazine carefully, you can never find the presence of lower or even the middle-class women. Why is their existence made invisible in these glossy pages, while they do exist in reality?
Effects of these glossy pages on the psyche of a woman
While the magazines claim to cater to the interests of “women” as a group, they do not ever do this. However, what these magazines tend to forget is that, they cannot in any way restrict the readership. Once published it is bound to affect the psyche of the female section from all classes and age-groups. Shouldn’t these magazines be more responsible then?
While half of the blame lies with the magazines, the other half lies with the reader itself. The power is with the reader, who can make or break the popularity of a magazine. The fact that these magazines are still getting sold speaks volumes about the way we still think.
It’s time we should CHANGE and CHANGE for the BETTER!
It’s time we stop allowing these magazines to dictate us about what we should read. We certainly can tell them what we want to read.
The need of the hour is to discuss serious issues surrounding women like that of education, jobs, career, dowry, marriage, rape, right to property and sometimes even the right to life.
Sex, fashion, and clothes do not define a woman nor are the ultimate need in a woman’s life. There are many other issues which still await discussion. These magazines need to look at the problems of caste, class, and religion to be able to enlighten its readers. They need to look at the problems women face in their day-to-day lives.
They need to focus on our problems and “ADDRESS US”! So, think before you once again get lured by these glossy pages.
December 23rd, 2008 at 6:03 am
this is really nice commentary frm the writer worth an applause
March 1st, 2009 at 3:02 pm
This article really outlines the truth and embarks the difference between service and business
March 26th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Superbb article!!!
hats off for u (Author)
hop d women readin d article follow wat the article is speakin about
March 31st, 2009 at 4:28 pm
hey i totally agree with this…i see my friends and collegues so totally engrossed in shopping and their “fashion fevers”…i blame the media…its the ultimate effect of consumerism…magazines want to sell themselves…they earn money through advertisments that are rubbish… it makes the woman feel low about her own self and she ends up buying things and reading these stupid magazines….