Do women's magazines accurately reflect women's interests?

Discussion Open Forum
#1

I was in the waiting room at the doctor’s the other day for two bloody hours. Nothing to do but read the germ-infested magazines. I picked up a copy of “Good Housekeeping” and “Cosmopolitan” and a couple of others. There were several female patients there…also reading these sort of magazines. Most looked mom-ish, and a couple had their kids with them. Here’s a general compilation of the indices from about 4 different magazines.

  1. Sex
  2. Sex
  3. Beauty
  4. Fashion
  5. Sex
  6. Beauty
  7. Sex
  8. Fashion
  9. Beauty
  10. Beauty
  11. Sex
  12. Beauty
  13. Fashion
  14. Sex
  15. Sex

There were several editions of “Time” “National Geographic” and others of a similar vein, but the only uniquely men’s magazine at the doctor’s office was “Men’s Health.” I used to read Men’s Health on a regular basis, and it’s really the only non-porn, men-specific magazine you can pick up at the same places that sell “Good Housekeeping” and the like. Here’s what the index usually looks like for that one:

  1. Health
  2. Sports
  3. Politics
  4. Career
  5. Relationships
  6. Sex
  7. Health
  8. Career
  9. Fashion
  10. Health
  11. Politics
  12. Relationships
  13. Fashion
  14. Sports

Of course it’s more “health specific” but even so it is far more balanced and better written than popular women’s magazines. I mean seriously ladies, do you read that crap? The quizzes are the best parts. “Is your lover truly satisfying your desire’s? Find out now by taking this short quiz!”

Ugh.

#2

Your assesment is pretty accurate, imo.
Most women’s mags are crap. Cosmo especially.
I like Men’s Health for reading. Vogue for hi-q (fashion) photography.

#3

Yes, they are crap. I occasionally succumb and buy Elle, but I swear I can read the entire thing in under 15 minutes. And at 340NT, it’s hardly a good use of funds.

I try to read lots and lots of good books, not in my native language if possible. I try and read as much French/Chinese as I can (even though they are both difficult for me), and I even try and keep up the ‘dead’ languages I learned at school and university.

Magazines are like crappy TV; dead time.

#4

[quote=“Buttercup”]
Magazines are like crappy TV; dead time.[/quote]

You mean like TV in Taiwan?

#5

Those are just crappy women’s magazines. Some have more important issues than hair and makeup.

#6

Robbie Williams’ sex life is more important than hair? Who are you trying to kid?

#7

What other subjects might you find in women’s mags?

– 10 ways to tell your husband/boyfriend he drinks too much
– How to lie to your husband/boyfriend.
– How to get your husband/boyfriend to take out the garbage.
– Tips on getting more shopping money out of him.
– Gossip, how best to ruin some other woman’s life?
– He cheats so why can’t you?
– Nagging your husband/boyfriend about not making enough money.
– 10 signs your husband/boyfriend is fuuking around.
– How to withhold sex as a means of leverage to get what you want.
– Mood swings; how to make your man feel miserable while you get it off your chest.
– 10 excuses for maxing out the credit card.
– Shagging your fitness instructor – everyone’s doing it!
– How to put your ugly child up for adoption.
– How to go through his things without him finding out.
– How to hack into his personal email account.
– How Discovery Channel specials helped me to poison my husband.

#8

They are supposed to be aspirational for young girls. Any woman worth her salt knows these things by the age of 21 anyway.

#9

[quote]The quizzes are the best parts. “Is your lover truly satisfying your desire’s? Find out now by taking this short quiz!”[/quote]I got “mostly B’s - You are a foxy lady and you know how to show it”

#10

[quote=“wolf_reinhold”]What other subjects might you find in women’s mags?

– 10 ways to tell your husband/boyfriend he drinks too much
– How to lie to your husband/boyfriend.
– How to get your husband/boyfriend to take out the garbage.
– Tips on getting more shopping money out of him.
– Gossip, how best to ruin some other woman’s life?
– He cheats so why can’t you?
– Nagging your husband/boyfriend about not making enough money.
– 10 signs your husband/boyfriend is fuuking around.
– How to withhold sex as a means of leverage to get what you want.
– Mood swings; how to make your man feel miserable while you get it off your chest.
– 10 excuses for maxing out the credit card.
– Shagging your fitness instructor – everyone’s doing it!
– How to put your ugly child up for adoption.
– How to go through his things without him finding out.
– How to hack into his personal email account.
– How Discovery Channel specials helped me to poison my husband.[/quote]

You read them don’t you! Don’t lie!

#11

[quote=“Buttercup”]Yes, they are crap. I occasionally succumb and buy Elle, but I swear I can read the entire thing in under 15 minutes. And at 340NT, it’s hardly a good use of funds.

I try to read lots and lots of good books, not in my native language if possible. I try and read as much French/Chinese as I can (even though they are both difficult for me), and I even try and keep up the ‘dead’ languages I learned at school and university.

Magazines are like crappy TV; dead time.[/quote]

Want some economists?

#12

[quote=“Tyc00n”][quote=“Buttercup”]Yes, they are crap. I occasionally succumb and buy Elle, but I swear I can read the entire thing in under 15 minutes. And at 340NT, it’s hardly a good use of funds.

I try to read lots and lots of good books, not in my native language if possible. I try and read as much French/Chinese as I can (even though they are both difficult for me), and I even try and keep up the ‘dead’ languages I learned at school and university.

Magazines are like crappy TV; dead time.[/quote]

Want some economists?[/quote]

I’ll take some. Those things are farking expensive here and damned thin.

#13

Mebbe. I know NOTHING about economics. Maybe I should start learning.

#14

[quote=“SuchAFob”][quote=“Tyc00n”]

Want some economists?[/quote]

I’ll take some. Those things are farking expensive here and damned thin.[/quote]
Don’t get too excited girls. I heard him promise those same Economists to Erhu months ago. We waited with excitement of a child on a Christmas Day.

We finally got tired of waiting and now Erhu buys her own.

#15

I think I can just steal them from work.

#16

Tyc00n’s a tease?

#17

So why don’t we gather like a mob of vacuum carrying women (we are too modern to carry brooms) and steal them from him. We can then split up the booty and trade them amongst each other as we finish them.

#18

That’s OK, the Economist doesn’t just cover Business, it covers just as much International Politics and sometimes other interesting stuff like science and history. The doctor at the clinic across my street has stacks of’em. I flip through them when I’m waiting in line. If only every doctor’s office subscribed to the Economist.

(It makes me wonder, though, since the doctor’s English is not all that great…I do the half Chinese/English communication dance with him most of the time. I guess he uses them to practice his English, though the Economist seems way too advanced for his level.)

#19

Ditto.

#20

Ditto what?