Wednesday, September 18, 2013

So Cosmo says you're fat? Well I ain't down with that!

Dear Women's Magazines,

Yeah, I read you sometimes. Usually, it's when I'm waiting in the doctor's office and I don't have my phone, or anything else to keep me occupied, with me. I've observed a wide variety of ludicrous headlines on your covers over the years, but one thing never seems to change: without a doubt, every women's magazine has at least one headlining article about weight loss.

"Shape-Up Shortcuts: 14 Tricks to Melt Fat"
"Shrink Your Inner Thighs in Six Minutes a Day!"
"Kate Middleton's Post-Baby Weight Loss Regime...Your Exclusive Duchess Diet and Shape-up Plan"

...this may be way too obvious to point out, but if each of these diet and exercise regimes were as effective as they claim to be, why would the reader need a new one every month?

Anywhoozle, my main quibble with this marketing practice is your reaffirmation of a woman's constant need to be striving for a slimmer, smaller, fitter figure. Every day, women across the nation are told by the media that they should never be satisfied with what they see in the mirror. After all, if a women were ever to (gasp) accept and love her body for what it is, how would you ever sell any magazines?

Here's the thing: as a woman in her early twenties, I am fully aware that I am not a twig. I am also fully aware that even an endless amount of the workouts that you publish monthly will probably never turn me into a twig. But despite all of this, I really like my body. Please stop telling me that I shouldn't; that's really not cool of you.

Love,
Kenz

3 comments:

  1. I used to really enjoy reading magazines like People, Self, and Cosmo, and then I sat down to look at one some time last year and I was absolutely disgusted. These magazines make bank off of real women who already feel insecure, even before being told to do 1,000 squats a day for JLo's ass and to refrain from eating to prepare for a big event. The body image epidemic in this country is disastrous, and after realizing just how much damage magazines like these do, I don't think I could ever buy another. As a person who has had body image issues since grade school and continues to fight for realism about the human body image, I can't wait for the day when I see a mainstream magazine preaching health, fitness, and wellness over body shape and your BMI.

    Hope everything's going well, Kenz! :)

    Mary

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    1. Also, totally forgot I had a blogspot blog!!! hahaha oops!

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  2. You are awesome. Check out the blog "The Militant Baker." Love you. "Aunt" Elaine

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