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Magazines please stop giving me body issues

Written by
January 4, 2012
Be Happy
54 Comments

I walked into my local newsagent yesterday and walked out feeling less of a woman.

It wasn’t the disappointment at finding out that my mega quick-pick from Saturday’s Lotto draw had failed to draw a winner.

No, it was the wall-to-wall offerings from the Australian magazine industry that had me skulking out the door … all the while sucking in my stomach and regretting the gluten-free slice I’d had with my coffee for afternoon tea.

OUR BEST BODIES at every age!

The Body Issue

Deborah Hutton. Incredible at 50

HALF THEIR SIZE How the stars shaped up

Find your happy weight

Australian magazines - the body issues - Jan 2012

Geez, Louise.

Now, no offence to the Louises out there but I’ve had a (pun intended) gut full.

Magazine editors, I know you think you’re all very clever, sitting there at your lovely kikki.K-inspired desks in July, planning January’s cover stories and thinking about all the maple-glazed ham and rum balls we ate over the festive season (because you ever so kindly provided the recipes in your December issues).

You think, hey, what if we play the guilt card? That’ll have them buying our magazine and calling Jenny Craig faster than they can put the Tupperware lid back on scorched almonds.

Sorry, magazine editors, you’re not that clever if you think that we’re that dumb.

Seriously.

Do you think we will be motivated to suddenly put down that piece of white Christmas and dust off the runners, just because you put a naked, “air-brushed” 50-year-old on the cover of your magazine? Or feature 50 made-over celebrities who you used to poke a front-cover stick at for being “fat”?

Umm. I DON’T THINK SO (to borrow some of your over-used capitals).

We are tired of being fed a load of drivel.

Quite frankly, good luck to Deborah Hutton. Yes, she looks fabulous and I don’t question her decision to pose nude for a national magazine. (I do question why she’s doing the same pose Jen Hawkins did exactly two years ago. Original? Not.)

And if a celebrity wants to play the celebrity game and be proud of her curves one minute; the next showing off her miraculous weightloss, good on her.

Oh, while we’re on the topic, spare me the overly Photoshopped new celeb mum who feels the need to share her baby spinach and squeezed lemon juice diet that got her back to her pre-baby weight … before she left the delivery room.

You know what motivates women to good health?

The feeling that we are valued.

That we are loved for who we are. Not what we look like.

That our bodies are strong.

That our minds are sharp.

We might not look like the latest over-rated “it” girl but we’re more than “it” enough for ourselves.

Next year mag editors, why not talk to the women who you are wanting to buy your publications?

Ask them what they’d like to read as they sit on the beach contemplating the year ahead.

You might be very surprised.

I won’t be.

What do you think? Are you turned off by these type of cover stories? What would make you buy a magazine these days?

  • Desertgirl of Alice

    Terrific article Nikki! And you are so correct about what motivates women to improve their health.

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      Thanks so much … I’d like to think that most of us have moved on from this kind of “motivation”. To me it’s just a turn off.

  • http://www.facebook.com/angie.creed1 angiecreed

    I couldn’t agree more Nikki! When I see women buying/reading them I feel like it’s a betrayal to the sisterhood as those tabloid mags do nothing to celebrate the real strengths of women. But then I realise that they are just doing as they are told by the publishers, who view their insecurties as a marketing goldmine. Yuk. And yes, Deborah Hutton looks great for 50, but she doesn’t look 50. I would have been much more impressed WW weren’t trying to make her look 25.

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      I think the more of us who DON’T buy them and send messages that we are smart, intelligent women … then perhaps, perhaps things will eventually change.

  • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

    YES! Let’s have some ladies of great diversity on the covers of our mags : those with beauty, smarts, humour, musicality, dramatic gifts etc. And if they want to take their clothes off, well that is their choice, but please don’t say ‘Real Women’ and then photoshop the crap outta them! I actually want to see women who inspire me to GROW as a person, not SHRINK my body. But that’s just me! GREAT piece Nikki!

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      And surely we are collectively smart enough to get that message across? So many women doing AMAZINGLY inspirational things. That would get me reading in January.

  • Miss G

    Bravo, Nikki. I do NOT buy these magazines for the exact reasons you have so succinctly written in your article.

    The over indulgences of the festive season may be sitting heavily on my body at the moment but they are just the proof of a good time had! I would rather be happy than hungry.

    I love magazines that inspire me to be myself – creative, aware and connected to my community.

    I love fashion but I do not love diets.

    I like hearing about people’s lives but I cannot stand gossip.

    I like positive perspectives and not bitchy comments.

    I like food so lots of recipes would be good and I like my garden so a bit about that would be good too.

    I like good photos but can’t abide pictures obviously taken when people are unaware that they are being photographed through a telephoto lens.

    thanks for the great article Nikki

    x Miss G

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      Miss G … I like your style! Now, that sounds like a mag I’d like to buy too.

  • leanlizzy

    As this sort of stuff is discussed regularly in my genre, I had to put my two cents’ worth in and say “Amen” – we can all be fitter, stronger and leaner, but let’s always remind ourselves to keep it real – and to remember that we are worthy, loved and beautiful no matter what size we are.

    I stopped reading all of those magazines five or six years ago when I was at my largest. Once I started feeding my mind and my body the right “nutrients” and sowed the seeds of what is truly valuable and inspirational in this life, did I finally solve my weight dilemma.

    Let’s stop ‘feeding’ the media by rejecting their product and demanding better for ourselves and our sisterhood.
    Liz N

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      Here here, LeanLizzy … feed our bodies and minds the right nutrients. I love that!

  • Kerri

    Yeah….what she said!

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      Yes!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1657805202 a beachcottage

    you nailed it Nikki

    I am so sick of it, I rarely buy any magazines anymore….celebrity, lifestyle or health…even housey magazines leave me depressed…just full of ideas for things that will never be in my life…lik 10,000 dollar sofas and 10 million dollar houses with the beautiful people

    I want to see REAL GIRLS on the cover of mags….and by the feedback on my blog so do a whole lot of girls out there….

    the whole Elle advert for sunscreen on the tv makes me mad too…

    great post…

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      Thanks Sarah. Real girls, real houses … I think you should be on the cover of a mag!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=648713177 juliehill

    Great article Nikki. I have NEVER bought a “woman’s” mag – they are so far from real life. There are so many wonderful blogs and sites out there (like justb!) by real people with real lives – I am far more inspired by them and my amazing friends than by which celebrity is on which diet and who’s who on the red carpet. For celebrities their “job” means looking good – no doubt many put in far more time with a personal trainer/dietician/stylist than the “everyday” woman (or man!) would be able to. It is no different than a graphic designer keeping up with the latest trends or a dentist with the latest techniques – it is part of what they do. Let’s not fall into the trap of believing that they look like that with no hard work or sacrifice. Frankly, I would much rather munch out on a nice choc brownie (homemade and preservative free of course!) and be happy in my non-perfect skin with my family and friends by my side. Here’s to REAL woman and BAH to the woman’s mags!!!

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      I LOVE your thinking … especially the homemade preservative0-free brownie. I make them a lot!

  • http://www.facebook.com/thesimplyteashop melissadarr

    Do I hear an Amen women? Cos I’m going to give one! “AMEN”! What a great article and how true it all is! I don’t buy these magazines anymore because they are in no way a good example to the everyday women. Who can look, love and eat like the overbrushed stars do? Not the everyday mum/wife/cook/cleaner etc! Eat your cake, exercise, have a carrot and be happy with who you are! Cos I am!

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      Be happy with who you are! AMEN to that!!

  • Angela

    Great article Nikki! I never buy those types of magazines. I’m not interested in anything they have to say. The celebrity gossip, the hating on some women who are “too fat”, the baby bumps (maybe she just had a big lunch!), the articles on how to lose weight or change your body to make yourself fit a narrow interpretation of what’s beautiful (maybe you’re great just how you are!), and the hating on women who are “too thin”, the celebrity breakdowns etc – these magazines add nothing positive to my life so I don’t waste my time, or money on them.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=648713177 juliehill

    (Hope you don’t get this twice – last comment disappeared before I hit submit – technology!!)

    Great article Nikki. I have NEVER bought a “woman’s” mag – they are so far from real life. There are so many wonderful blogs out there by real people with real lives – I am far more inspired by them and my amazing friends than which celebrity is on which diet and who’s who on the red carpet. For celebrities their “job” means looking good. It is part of their job description – like a graphic designer keeping up with the latest trends or a dentist with the newest techniques. For many, the time put in with personal trainers/stylists/dieticians is far more than the “everyday” woman (or man!) could find time for. Let us not fall into the trap of believing they look this good without hard work or sacrifice. Frankly, I would rather munch into a homemade choc brownie, with my family and friends beside me. Here’s to REAL woman and BAH to the “woman’s” mags!!!

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=648713177 juliehill

      ooops – sorry you did get it twice!!!!! At least I remembered what I said the first time ;)

  • Louisa

    I totally agree with you Nikki – in fact a few years ago I wrote my thesis on this subject BUT the problem actually lies with us. As long as women continue to buy the magazines then nothing will change. Many years ago an editor put a plus size model on the cover of a magazine (I think it was Madison) and it was the highest selling issues EVER – yet the advertisers said if she ever did it again they’d pull their advertising. The editor quit but it was a long time before a plus size model graced the cover again ;(

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      mmm … so, so true … I think it will be a slow tide change. Some of it is happening with people reading more online and buying fewer magazines but it will be a long time till the real effect is felt.

  • Angelmum

    I find it amusing that the people who look great at 50, 40 or whatever age they pick on are the people who looked fabulous and/or were professional models in their younger days. The rest of us mere mortals aren’t going to suddenly morph into uber glamazons at an older age!!
    I like to buy Mindfood mag as this month it has Meryl Streep on the cover and stays away from the usual mag drivel. Plus I am tending to use blogs now instead of mags to keep me connected with stuff the way mags used to. styling You and Fifi’s Fix are favourites!

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      Oh, thanks Angelmum (for coming over to read me at Styling You). And yes, blogs have definitely become a better way for women to stay connected … with other real women.

  • Footprintsmag

    I actually wouldn’t mind getting hubby to take a pic of ME in that pose. Not that we’ll be showing anybody else though!!!! Shame coz then the world would get to see what a REAL woman looks like LOL.

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      Now, imagine if they had asked random people to do that pose and created a composite cover of lots of women for their cover. THAT would be powerful.

  • Somer

    So true! I love this post Nikki. Your thoughts are spot on, and so much more interesting and relatable to us than the article on the same topic posted on mamamia last week. Enjoy your writing… You go girl! X

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      Thanks Somer … has been brewing around in my head. Walking into the newsagents was all that was needed to tip me over the writing ledge.

  • Rebecca Bloomer

    I stopped buying all these mags some time ago specifically because I couldn’t read/look at one without I finished it feeling worse, rather than better, about myself. It’s great to hear that someone else feels the same way.

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      We just need even more people to stand up to them and say, this is not what we want to read. We want to be inspired not shouted at.

  • michele in texas

    It’s the same everywhere you look – all the news anchors, communications/television, almost any woman in the public eye has the “plastic” Stepford wives syndrome. When I first saw that movie I never thought it could happen….it has! Are you sick of it? Why doesn’t anyone say anything, do anything? Has the average women in everyday life become that artificial – seriously? Dang, I guess we need to start a movement to Boycott Barbie Babes and demand that the products we buy, including the media and movies, represent ‘real’ women. Hey, it’s our money…..money talks.

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      Love the BBB movement idea. Yes, I do!

  • Maid In Australia

    Well said. I stopped buying these magazines ages ago. They make me feel worse about myself, not better!

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      Me too. I purposely look elsewhere to things to read that give me a lift, not pull me down.

  • Kev

    Lucky there isn’t the same breadth of magazines for men doing the same thing.

    Although, given the expanding waist lines of the male population in general I wonder how long we will have more than Men’s Health trying to give us a guilt complex.

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      I think you’re safe, Kev. I think men have been smarter in not buying into the kind of stuff and hype us women get sucked into.

  • Rachel

    Great article! It’s not just women who feel deflated body conscious, and that they need to be fitter, more tanned, n have no cellulite, it’s the young and venerable teenage girls we need to protect! I still recall reading a magazine as a 15-16 yr old, n reading the weight, n measurements of various models, it brought on a mild eating disorder! How the hell does a magazine know the weight of a model? Every real women matter what size, u have cellulite n wobbling bits, freckled skin, white skin and the occasional breakout! We need to protect the next generation of women, to prevent eating disorders and stop this photoshopping of models or celebrities. If we all had a make up artist, hairdresser, n a photoshop session, we too would look gorgeous, but it’s not the real us. Go Nikki, let’s hope magazines take notice! We r real women here us roar! Great job Nikki!

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      Roaring as loud as I can … and especially as I have a teenage daughter. So far, so good on that count. Focus needs to swing to inspirational not a false kind of aspirational.

  • kattate

    Woohoo! It really is an endless, predictable cycle, isn’t it? Fatten us up in winter with ‘winter warmer’ full-fat, full-sugar, full-dairy recipe specials. Tell us it’s OK to over-indulge at Christmas. Then send us the Jan issues while we’re still chowing down on Chrissy lunch, telling us play time is over and it’s time to look like a celeb in time for ‘beach season’. Gaaaa!

    My question is…so many of us loathe the body-centric headlines. We refuse to read the patronising garbage. Yet these magazines continue to be bought (yes, circulation is down, but that’s due to people reigning in their spending and seeking free online sources, rather than being fed up with the fat bashing).

    It’s time the magazines LISTENED. Celebrate women for being women. Applaud those in the community who do good for others, start their own businesses, change the world (or the neighbourhood or their home). No one will remember what size we were once we’re gone, or which diet we adhered to. But they will remember what we did. And how we lived. That is the true message we should be sending to all generations and both genders.

    Thanks again Nikki. This is a really inspired and much-needed post. :) x

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      I think they will have to listen up … women are becoming smarter and have access to other information sources now (and each other via the internet). I’ll keep writing about this as long as they keep feeding it to us. VERY, very passionate on my Styling You blog about helping women of all ages and stages feel fabulous about themselves.

  • Urban

    Not only am I throughly impressed with this fabulous article but the fact you take the time to respond to peoples’ comments. You truly are a star Nikki – well done!

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      Thanks Urban … I do this on my own blog too. I figure that if you stop by and leave a comment then you don’t want to talk to an empty vessel!

  • Cathg1g2

    Agree with everyone’s comments to your great article. My focus, is self being fit and happy and two teen daughters being raised with a broader, loving acceptance of selves and others, so far so good…they laughed at the news stands and their crappy headlines. Kudos to today’s women raising strong daughters.

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      Well done to you Cath … and yes, I’m the same with my teenage daughter. She’s not even interested in those mags!

  • fashionadjacent

    VERY WELL SAID indeed.

    I don’t buy these mags either, because the constant body shaming is not something I need in my life (let alone need to pay for a dose of!). There seems a constant cycle of critising women for “letting themselves go”, alternating with critizising other women for “going too far”.. it’s so stupid and damaging to everyone.

    We, all of us, are so much MORE than our appearance, and focussing on it does every woman a disservice, I think.

    I’ve been doing something else, lately, too – when I talk to young girls, I do not comment on their appearance. I say something else. I have found this really really hard to do! It’s our habit, when talking to a little girl to say “ooh, what a pretty dress!” “don’t you look nice!” etc. It’s a real brain-shift to instead say “What’s your favourite book?” or “What did you do yesterday?” or ask them something else… I have found the conversations I am having with my friends kids is totally different (and better) now.

    I like to think I am doing my bit not to perpetrate the idea that a woman’s appearance is the most important thing about her. :)

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      THAT is so fabulous. A really, really good habit to get into. Thanks for sharing!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=740734358 kateroberts

    Fabulous article Nikki.

    I agree with you 100%. I’m tired of seeing headings about the latest celebrity diet, which celebrity lost 5kgs and how … etc etc. To be honest, I wonder how these celebrities are still able to function as most of these so called “fabulous” diets are incredibly healthy and most normal people would actually put on double the weight they have lost doing these crazy diets – it’s just not a sustainable healthy weight loss! What I would love to see on the cover of magazines is women embracing themselves and their good qualities. Some positivity in our lives rather than these negative images and headings splashed across the covers of magazines and in the media. I can see how difficult it can be for some women to remain positive when all we are surronded by is such negativity about ourselves and our bodies. Thank you for such a wonderful and honest article Nikki!

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      Thanks so much, Kate and yes I’d love too to see more positivity about women’s good qualities on mag covers and inside!

  • http://maxabellaloves.blogspot.com/ maxabellaloves

    Great article, Nikki. I stopped reading the magazines and I have never looked back.

    I miss the fash a little bit, but not enough.

    x

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      No, not enough for me either!

  • http://www.facebook.com/carly.findlay carlyfindlay

    Well said! I gave up on buying these trash mags (Cleo and Cosmo etc) years ago. I would rather read mags like Frankie and Feast which have good journalism and positive messages. I also love reading blogs and websites like yours because I believe they really do push the healthy body image message.

    There is not enough diversity in our media. There is argument about weight, but rarely are there multicultural, disabled or gay role models featured in our media. There needs to be more.

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      Absolutely, Carly. Absolutely!

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