The "Allure"

I was checking my mail today and finally received my first free issue of "Allure" magazine. I had put in the promotional code into the website for Tampax and got 10 free issues. (Allure was the only remotely appealing one considering the selection included magazines for teenage girls.) Now, initially I had a preconceived notion about this magazine...some involved thinking the magazine was just a glimpse into the materialistic world of Hollywood. Sadly, as I flipped through page after page of advertisements for overpriced perfume, cologne, make-up, clothing, and jewelry I realized that my notions were right on point.

In Women's Studies, we had watched a movie called "Killing Us Softly" and it was mainly about how bad advertisements have gotten as far as women are concerned. Sex, money, and body image are some of the things highlighted in the December 2009 issue of Allure magazine. I had even seen some women...I repeat...WOMEN dressed as children or dolls with mangled legs trying to sell Juicy Couture (pg 135) to women who apparently find children and dolls appealing enough to want to buy this product. I was also shocked at the amount of sickly looking "models" if you can call them that (pg 150). They are so thin that Holocaust comes to mind. The true tragedy is that these magazines are not directed toward my women of my age, they are directed at young teenage girls who have yet to figure out who they are. They are directed at them because they are the most vulnerable. Advertisers figure that since they are the audience that's weak enough for us to manipulate, they are the perfect audience to advertise to. I think it's time to make a change.