Redbook. Cosmo. Vogue. O. Women's Day. Lucky. Jane. Seventeen. Ladies' Home Journal. Self.
There are countless mangazines for women today. Magazines for all types of women's interests: sports, politics, fashion, makeup, sex, gardening, men, etc. You name it, there is probably at least 4 magazines for it. Out of all these magazines, the ones that push themself to the forefront are Cosmopolitan (or CosmoGirl- for a younger audience) and Vogue. These magazines are full of pictures and articles pushing women to be more sexy, to find a great career, and to get with the right man. They are extremely popular which is not surprising, considering the impressions media makes on us that they are the truth of what life is like. In her article "The Symbolic Annihilation of Women by the Mass Media", Gaye Tuchman examines the messages of magzines from the past with the messages of today. Neither is flattering. She talks about the magazines from the 1950's, where within them she found four roles that women fall into "single and looking for a husband, housewife-mother, spinster, and widowed or divorced-soon to remarry. All the women were defined by the men in their lives, or by their absence" (Tuchman, 19). In the 1950's women were defined by men. In the present day, women are defined by their men, appearance or sex appeal.
In another class, we discussed this issue and our professor gave us a sample from a women's magazine entitled "The Good Wife's Guide" 
from the 50's. I found it again online, and here is a brief excerpt (full article in link below):
from the 50's. I found it again online, and here is a brief excerpt (full article in link below): Dated 1955, these tips are taken from Housekeeping Monthly and were headed "The Good Wife's Guide".
Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking.
Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.
Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.
Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash their hands and faces, comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimise all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.
Today's magazine articles, (taken from cosmopolitan.com) include titles such as:
10 Reasons to Watch Football
No matter which team you’re rooting for, there are hotties all over the field. Wearing tights. Need more proof? Check out these pics of our favorite men in uniform.
No matter which team you’re rooting for, there are hotties all over the field. Wearing tights. Need more proof? Check out these pics of our favorite men in uniform.
Cosmos' Secrets about Scent and Seduction
The Big Ring: Does Size Suddenly Matter More? Cosmo investigates the practice of putting price on love.
While there is a definite difference between the past and present (you don't often see articles about having all noises stopped when your husband gets home), there are also many common themes of how to get a man, and then keep him happy (with appearance and sex appeal). Maybe things have not changed as much as we think they have. Maybe deep down, the concept is all the same, its just the execution that is now different.
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