Task 4: Essay

To what extent should magazines be held responsible for the social ramifications of the representations they offer?

In this essay I will be explaining and exploring into how magazines could be to blame for the early sexualisation of the readers.Teenage magazines are very popular and accepted in today’s modern society however they are one main target on young girls. With the easy accessibility to buy these magazines in several places without any questions this could give the media a negative view on if these teenage girls should be reading the content? And plus the constant pressure of what is called as ‘perfect’ and how they should be following the latest fashion trends included, are these magazines the main cause to blame for the harm in society?

Popular teen magazines feature latest trends, beauty and boy gossip. These connotations displayed capture the attention of the young readers and therefore make them to purchase the magazine. They would also feel more inclined to buy the magazine if they featured their inspirations and role models. Some of these articles featured in the magazines are having a negative impact on the young girls due to the image represented by them or how they should be because of the heavy makeup that is worn by the celebrity. One in every three articles in a leading teen girl magazine included a focus on the teen girls appearance. These were so the advertisements had an appeal to sell their beauty products. However, its these articles and products that gives the these teenage readers a negative view on their body image and self-esteem. For example on Cosmo Girl, a story is featured on ‘5 moves to a hotter body’. This is giving the girls tips on how to get the perfect body and putting pressure to achieve the desired look and attract the opposite sex. This could also affect them because sometimes it is not always possible for them to look how it is accepted in society.
The magazines often include a free gift which is related to fashion or make up and shows that the girls look forward to or want to use the gift. The magazine also could be to blame for encouraging the reader to wear the make-up of lipstick and eyeshadow regardless of their age and if it is acceptable. 

Blake Lively- Cosmo Girl.

Cosmo Girl is a teenage version of Cosmopolitan which suggest that it a bit more watered down, however still features the same articles such as boys, looks and fashion. 

Blake Lively is seen on the front cover looking slim and ‘perfect’ and this is constant throughout any magazine cover that you find. Plus size girls are not normally featured because it is not seen as accepted for a teen girl to look up to. This could also add pressure onto the girls that are plus size and may feel out casted due to girls like them not being featured, and for this reason 165,000 people in the UK have an eating disorder. They starve themselves to achieve the look, which is seen as morally right on the cover.

The Models on the cover are also highly covered in make-up to enhance their looks. This could be done by false lashes to give them the sexy Smokey look which every woman wants. This is putting more pressure on the sexualisation of the teenage girls and how they can achieve ‘sexy hair’. Does society really want teen girls walking around trying to be sexy? And even still this may add to them trying to act sexual towards boys.

There is also another way to boost the beauty and shape of the models. Photoshop is most commonly used in the publishing industry and allows the editors to retouch a spot, a loose hair or even to the extreme of their body shapes. This gives the teenage readers a false impression of what they look like and how they can achieve the look with the advice mentioned. This highlights the fact that not everyone is perfect and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Although there are many negative views on magazines and if they can be blamed for harm in society they also do include some positive points. For example teenage magazines do inform them on topics such as boys and friends and can be turned to as a positive source of information if too scared to talk to someone. This is also highlighted by the anonymous page that is featured towards the back of the magazine. The anonymous page allows teens to write into the magazines of any problems they might have.  Their story may be featured in which advice has been given for them. It will give them advice on any future problems that they may occur within reality.

Teenage magazines are very popular and are sold in high demand, which is shown by their being several brands of magazines on the self. So surely if they are being sold the girls must enjoy reading them? Each issue of magazine may include a free beauty product, which may be collectable in the next issue and gives them something to look forward to when the next one is released.

The teenage magazines have both negative and positive arguments from different people in society as whether they should be responsible for the social ramifications they offer. But they are not the only thing that are bias and representation of teenage girls. For example TV shows such as Britain and Irelands Next Top Model show girls to be naturally pretty and no shorter than 5’8’’. These ideologies are everywhere in modern society and are all to blame for their representations.

In conclusion, it is evident that although these magazines are a huge factor and can easily be blamed for how a teen a girl perceives themselves even if the magazine did not intend to.

Within the magazine industry I would like to see more plus sized models appear on the cover of the magazines. This is because it will show girls that everyone is shaped differently and it is accepted within society. It would also show teenage girls that they are all beautiful if you are a size 14 or a size 8.Clothing and make up should also be toned down specifically for the type of magazine to show that looks and body image are not the only important things. Other topics such as School, parents and aspirations are also what make us who we are in an unique way and should be highlighted. These teenage magazines should give off a positive view to the readers and make them feel comfortable with who they are instead of the opposite. I also think that some magazines should remove or re word certain cover lines due to the way in which some girls could interpret them or are just not needed.