A Frankie High To A Many Magazine Low

My, my – it can be a very short week in magazine land.  On Monday I was espousing the virtues of the wonderful magazine Frankie for its sincerity and sassiness.  I was delighted to see this article in The Age that supported my thoughts about Frankie, and that it was choosing to treat its female readership as young women who were smart, well rounded and interested in things other than vapid gossip and diets.  I secretly skipped into my week thinking that possibly this was the beginning of the turning of the tide of women’s magazines (at least in some small way), especially as Frankie’s readership was increasing enormously – a sign that readers are really taking on board their positive message.  Today is Friday and I’m no longer skipping.

I’ve been incredibly disappointed to learn of three publications this week that have both heavily promoted and published articles that are demeaning and cruel to women while at the same time glorifying a thin obsessed culture.  Who are the culprits….

Firstly we have Grazia Magazine, with this article about Kelly Osbourne.  Grazia calls for big rounds of applause for Kelly due to her “super chic thin down” , praising her for her speedy weight loss methods and highlighting how she is now being courted by fashion designers due to her svelte body.  What message does this send to the Grazia readership?  You can only be considered fashionable and desirable if you are thin and any method you need to take to get there is ok.

Secondly we have Woman’s Day magazine with this article about Kirstie Alley entitled ‘ Kirstie’s Fat Farm Freak Out.’  In a mere few hundred words Woman’s Day manages to be cruel and demeaning in a shocking display of body image and fat hatred.  Kirstie has clearly had negative body image, self esteem and weight issues for a very long time now and Woman’s Day seems to think its funny to make light of this by quoting so called ‘spa insiders’ at a health retreat Kirstie is at, making claims she can’t fit into the work out gear provided and is flirting with kitchen staff to get extra food.  To say I’m disgusted with the publication is an understatement.

Lastly we have WHO Magazine (sister publication to US based People Magazine) with their annual ‘Body’ issue.  Now I have seen WHO get this relatively right before with lots of diverse body shapes and accompanying information about developing positive body image and the effects of eating disorders.  Aahh…not so much this time around.  As can be seen from the buffed bodies on the cover here, not a great deal of diversity (despite the claim), nor in the subsequent photo shoot slide shows here.  Of great concern, as so eloquently pointed out by former magazine editor, eating disorder survivor and blogger Erica Bartle, is the promotion of swimwear designer Jodhi Meares for exercising 3 hours a day.  When this exercise comes at the expense of going out to lunch, which Jodhi states she finds boring – we know there is a problem.  This is not a sustainable or healthy level of exercise, nor WHO, is it a healthy message to spread.  Please wake up.