Cosmopolitan Magazine

Now here's the deal, I am a total hypocrite when it comes to Cosmo magazine. Honestly, when it comes down to it, I do think it is degrading; almost every single article is about "How to please your man in 77 different ways" or "Does you hair make you look fat?" How is that supposed to empower women? I understand that you can make your appearance change with a whole different cut of the coiffure, but really? Cosmopolitan HAD to advertise to their market with the slogan "Does your hair make you look FAT?" If Cosmo was REALLY trying to empower women, they wouldn't include a back-handed comment about your hair, instead it would be "The hairstyle that best suits you according to your socio-economic position in the business world." But I guess I get it, after all most women are so screwed up from the media telling them that they are over-weight that super-models have become the expected woman (at least in the female mind.) Most women would pick up this magazine and read it. It's catchy, it's what they're looking for, it's a business. Now, what we really need is a magazine that helps women lose weight because being overweight is BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH not just for your ability to pick up men in a bikini. Now going back to the "please your man" thing. In this months Cosmo Mr. Megan Fox tells us that he LOVES it when Megan stocks his fridge full of his favorite food, and picks out his outfit, and shops for his lotion, hair gel, and cologne. Alright, I understand that this is just an advice column and it's just trying to present a nice gesture for women to do for their significant other. HOWEVER does anyone else notice that Cosmo is ALWAYS writing articles about how to please your man? It's just like the 1950's magazines that advertise Hoovers to the husbands because it will make her day easier. Whatever the advertisement or the spin, the female is always doing the work.

Now I'll go back to the part about me being a hypocrite. I totally and completely indulge in this monthly matron magazine. I look forward to the tips on how to make my skin better in the summer, winter, spring, and fall. I measure my face in order to find the best way to have my hair styled so I don't look chubby cheeked. I even question my guy friends on whether or not they really would appreciate if their girlfriend stocked their food supply. I have been brainwashed by society; and it is brainwashing, because I am not overweight, yet I feel the pressures of the models on the pages; my hair falls perfectly fine, yet I spend hours researching the best way to keep a curl; and I put on make-up for 10 minutes every morning just so I feel confident enough to go outside, even though I have been told on multiple occasions that 1) I don't need to wear make-up and 2) most guys like a natural girl without all the make-up. SO WHY DO I DO IT?! I DON'T KNOW! It's just there. I've been bred this way. I have been exposed to these "perfect people" and fashion magazines for 19 years and I have succumbed to the wills of business.

But, at the same time, Cosmo is for female empowerment. There are articles about the best ways to nail an interview, the ways to mimic body language so that people are more comfortable around you, the ways to get ahead in the work force, and the best things to eat so that you are healthy rather than just aiming to lose weight. So maybe that's what happened. I started out looking at the business articles, and maybe the make-up tips, and eventually I was hooked. I needed to check out what the new tips were, how to keep up with what was in- I miss the days where I could say I honestly couldn't care what I wore or how I looked.

So when I think about it, which is stronger? What effects women more? The back-handed "ways to look better" or the "ways to act better?" Considering there are magazines, stores, websites, medicines, so on and so forth dedicated ONLY to physical appearances of women, I say there should be a change, a new "Bible" so to say. We need a magazine that tells you the best ways to maintain yourself emotionally, physically, psychologically, and socially. When that happens, I believe we have overcome female oppression; and it IS oppression, because women are SUFFERING. Women are emotionally distraught because they feel like they don't fit in or aren't good enough. Just ask any girl whether or not she feels overweight. Most likely the only ones who are o.k. with their bodies are those who either don't care if people judge them or have accepted that they ARE beautiful; and that's how it should be. No one should be judged on physical appearance to the extent that they feel like they aren't beautiful.

So way to go society, you have officially bullied the female gender into a corner. But I guess that is partially my fault, after all I did buy the magazine, I do read the website, and in this way I contribute to the company and allow them to continue the brainwashing. Boo.