On the racks

As a well-read, politically conscious, self-respecting young woman, I've never really understood why teen stereotypes are so negative. But after looking at several popular teen magazines for the first time - including Teen, YM, Teen People, CosmoGirl and Seventeen - I'm beginning to think my generation is shallow, vapid and subservient.

How do the media do it?

The answer is quite simple: Readers are shown how to be beautiful and well-liked. They are expected to be followers no matter the cost. From designer fashion ads to rather pathetic embarrassing moments, it seems every girl should dress and act like a fashion model. For around $9.97 a year (only 83 cents an issue!), you, too, can be in the know about the world of haute couture.

For example, what better way to emulate celebrities than dress like them - and what better way for the magazine to convince you of that than through advertising? Out of 890 pages reviewed, 601 had ads. That's 67.5 percent. In addition to full-page photo ads (Seventeen has 20 pages of these before the table of contents alone), most "celebrity interview" and "back-to-school style watch" articles focused on what clothes and makeup the models wore, as well as where to buy them.

This alone might be a clue something is amiss, but a look at the featured products raises more questions. In a YM article entitled the "Obsessive Guide" to blue jeans, 44 different pairs were researched and reviewed. Any reader would be thrilled to see her search for jeans done. Unfortunately, the average price per pair was $93.29, which is a bit out of my budget.

In these articles, as well as others, I found a disturbing theme. Considering the profiles of male celebrities (and what they're looking for in a woman), quizzes (helping readers correct flaws like talkativeness, shyness and being too brainy to attract members of the opposite sex), embarrassing moments (that really aren't bad when compared to current global social crises) and a "Relationship Bible" (that promises to help you snag a "hot guy," personality and mannerisms aside), something is quite amiss. So much for magazines allegedly celebrating the individuality of teen girls everywhere!

Admittedly, there is some interesting content - but it takes a bit of looking. I found informative (albeit short) articles on safety at rock concerts, life in drug rehab, the abstinence movement, modeling scams, water's health benefits, women's soccer, even an application for a scholarship sponsored by Seventeen.

Sadly, these few redeeming pages were overshadowed by the very images many people hope to fight. For example, an article on sunless tanners focused more on pictures of scantily clad, waiflike models painting their toenails and spraying each other with garden hoses than describing the benefits of avoiding UV rays.

Even more disturbing, these images are being pitched to an increasingly younger set. A fashion spread centered around a "Sweet Sixteen" birthday party showed a model who couldn't have been more than 14 years old wearing fishnet hose, a revealing halter top and more makeup than I put on in a year.

Given such messages, is it any wonder the rate of eating disorders, depression and violence are so high among teen and preteen girls? Something must be done to stop more damage from being done.

The easiest thing to do is tell the magazines what you think. Write a letter to the editor. It may not be published, but the staff will learn how you feel. One protest may seem insignificant, but the voices of thousands can't be ignored.

Your refusal to buy magazines or support their advertisers also could be effective. Billions of dollars are spent on advertising each year. Refusing to support companies that put near-pornographic ads in magazines targeted to teenage girls, you'll send a subtle message to those companies.

With the money you save, subscribe to another publication that interests you. With a little research, you can find magazines about topics you're interested in, including Japanese comics, human rights and science-fiction movies.

It may be hard to be the only one reading the Biblical Archaeology Review at lunch, but by taking a stand against the exploitation and manipulation taking place in the media, you're helping make society a better place for us all.

Copyright 2001 Cowles Publishing Company
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.