Brooke Myers’ recent column on the shortcomings of Cosmopolitan made a good argument, but it’s based on a serious misconception. She argues that Cosmo is anti-feminist because it teaches that women achieve value through sex, beauty and relationships. But this assumes two fundamentally flawed premises: That Cosmo is attempting, or succeeding in practice, to define feminism through its content, and that said content is limited to those areas.
Myers quotes Cosmo’s Web site, saying the magazine “acknowledges that while work is important, men are too. The Cosmo girl absolutely loves men!” While she takes this to be a sign that Cosmo is reinforcing an “emotionally dependent female stereotype,” I’d say this is just a realistically modern view of feminism. A movement that was once totally focused on getting women into, and equal in, the workplace can now incorporate other aspects of our lives. Since the magazine is geared toward straight women, isn’t it perfectly acceptable for it’s audience to love men?
If Cosmo is defining feminism and femininity in its pages, it’s the altogether healthier kind that allows us the freedom to choose what those things mean to us. The kind that allows us to achieve our professional aspirations and still get a good relationship, look great and have an amazing sex life. It’s a modern and all-inclusive philosophy that allows women to have it all. Why does being a feminist and believing in equal rights mean I can’t care about how my hair looks or want to get a date with the hot guy I work with?
But I don’t think Cosmo is attempting to define femininity, or confine women’s identity and worth to the subject matter it covers. It does what every other magazine does: It targets a very specific, large demographic and covers the material it is most qualified to cover. It’s ridiculous to think the women reading this magazine expect it to encompass every part of their lives or would assume any part of their lives not found within it’s pages wasn’t part of their identity as women. That kind of assumption doesn’t give women enough credit.
Talk of feminist identity aside, Myers’ column shows another frequent misconception about Cosmopolitan. It’s not all about sex. I surveyed seven magazines spread across the last three years, including the three most recent. Out of the 247 serious articles within those issues (excluding confessions, questions, fiction, etc.), only 19 were about sex. The majority of those were about achieving better sex for both partners, not “pleasing your man” as many assume. Yes, these sex stories are often the biggest headlines on the cover, but there’s nothing anti-feminist about having better sex.
As expected, the largest group of articles were about fashion and beauty (110 articles out of the 247). This is probably because those subjects are the main focus of the magazine, and have been since the ’60s. Most of these articles are focused on helping women feel sexier, and again, I don’t see what’s anti-feminist about fashion or beauty advice. Even the most hardcore feminist wants to look pretty. That doesn’t mean it’s all about catching male attention. And the mere inclusion of these topics doesn’t suggest they are all that should matter to women, just that they are a part of our lives.
Important health and relationship concerns each had 28 articles out of those I surveyed. Included in the health-related articles were many with helpful information about birth control and STD risks. That certainly seems like a successful way to deal with the responsibility created by the sexual revolution, which Myers accuses Cosmo of ignoring. The relationship advice centers around creating and maintaining truly healthy bonds, as opposed to only 18 articles that were about getting and pleasing a man.
The articles that most defy the usual assumptions about Cosmo were those on personal development and serious news, of which there were 20 of each. The personal development articles covered topics like decreasing stress, gaining confidence and getting what you want in the workplace. They include information from psychologists and other experts, as well as practical ways to implement their advice. There are at least one or two serious news stories in every issue, and they tend to provide excellent coverage of dangers women have faced.
With all of this information, it seems clear that Myers’ argument is based in false assumptions. She argues that Cosmo takes an anti-feminist view of women by teaching them that “their value is merited solely by men, because all their efforts … are geared toward pleasing their male counterparts.” But the vast majority of the articles in my survey contradict this description. Yes, Cosmo writes articles about “stereotypically” feminine subjects such as beauty, fashion, sex and relationships. But that might just be because their audience is actually interested in those subjects. And most of those articles are written from the perspective of making women feel better and do better in their lives — for their own sake, not for a man.
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mustafa 2 years, 1 month ago
On the news this morning some stupid girl killed herself because she was "cyber-ed bullied." Apparently the Board believes that cyber-bully eightbitgirl might kill herself if I'm allow to speak mean to her.
It really gets tiring hearing the politically correct line that "women can do it all" while at the same being constantly confronted with evidence that they are frail minded weaklings who need constant protection and the benefit on an incredibly uneven playing field in order to compete with men.
Why don't we have a big discussion on why in the past thirty years something call The War on Women has arisen. (I believe liberal icon Susan Faluti wrote a book about it.) Or would too many girls kill themselves upon hearing it?
eightbitgirl 2 years, 1 month ago
Mustafa, would you be getting off on those stories or would you just send other women lovely PMs like the one you sent me telling me you hope I get raped and murdered? Either way, give it up, troll.
mustafa 2 years, 1 month ago
Cosmo encourages women to sleep with their bosses (or anyone in authority over them) in order to get promotions and easy ride. This of course is grossly unfair to other employees. Bill Clinton gave a cushy high paying job to his bimbo Jennifer Flowers, passing over a highly qualified female applicant with much seniority.
Women who enter a given work place with the intention of sleeping their way up the ladder are the underlying reason for sexual harassment on the job. Otherwise unattractive men who suddenly find themselves in positions of authority, over a sizable work force including women, quickly learn that some women can be had and eventually they end up seeing encouragement where none exists.
Here at OU professors or instructors who get exposed by mercenary female students get disciplined or fired but nothing happens to the girl who should rightly be expelled.
mustafa 2 years, 1 month ago
“I can't be bothered to tell you what's offensive about every single comment you make (because that would in some way dignify….”
BS! You don’t respond because you can’t respond. Everyone knows what I said is true. There are always some women in every competitive situation, i.e. the workplace, that see sex as a tool for advancement and getting special beenies.
I have even heard the feminist mantra that sleeping with the boss for favoritism is justified because it counteracts the discrimination women face, yada, yada.
Your anti Semitism against my race and home country is most blatant. It is obvious that you’re itchin’ to call me a “camel jockey.” Why don’t you just come out once and scream it. FYI in my country we don’t even ride camels much, anymore.
$1 girl- You invited me to talk bluntly with you. What’s zamatter, was I too edgy for you. You enjoy vomiting on peoples religious values and making nothing but snide remarks that push peoples hot buttons. Yet , like a typical liberal, you can’t handle any return fire. You think that no matter how cruel you are, even the people you persecute admire you for your passion and courage. Well that is not true. You are genuinely hated for who you are and what you believe, almost to the same level that you hate others. You came here to get an education , so get one. You are not loved. If you can’t handle competing with the big boys then get back to your kitchen and stay there.
Please promise that you won’t someday sneak up behind your husband and murder him with a baseball bat because he likes to watch sports on TV.
Neither of you can compete with me. Dargus has manage to take me down a peg, once in a rare while, but neither of you even try.
mustafa 2 years, 1 month ago
JJanowiak? I take it your comments are aimed at me. Why is it you can only hurl insults in the name of phony outrage, while never explaining just what you find so offensive about what I've written?
I'd almost wager that there isn't a single female over the age of twenty-one who has never been aware of, or known personally, at least one female who has slept with her boss or other authority figure.
Come on girls. Help us out. Tell us true stories of acquaintances and friends who fit this criteria.
William 2 years, 1 month ago
Mary, From your past articles I have taken you to be very much a woman proud of her gender. Sometimes militant, but nevertheless proud, in the respectable and justified sense of the word. But I feel now that you are just grabbing at whatever seemingly empowering force you can get your hands on. Gross, dude. Why would you degrade yourself and your fellow women by supporting such an objectifying (both of men and women) and all around superficial and disgusting publication? Be warned, Cosmo may or may not parade on the front of encompassing femininity, but it brings a sordid and shameful perspective to those who read it. Look at the bigger picture, and think twice before you openly condone the distribution of a steaming pile of poop in the name of womanhood.
mustafa 2 years, 1 month ago
So I finally got my foot in the door over at the Daily office and had a conversation with the editor, who refused to return my calls, and The Advisor. Apparently it is true, females are regarded by the Daily staff as too frail to endure snide remarks that aren’t even directed at them personally if it involves one particular word. Rather than repeat that word and risk having this post squashed, I shall simply describe it as that place in every household where meals are prepared.
Nonetheless I was assured that from now on all will be held to a higher standard. Let’s see if that is true.
dio 2 years, 1 month ago
Wait, where are the comments of JJanowiak and Dargus? Are you censoring them and let freaks like mustafa troll the comment section? What the hell is going on at the daily?
mustafa 2 years, 1 month ago
I can't be bothered to tell you what's offensive about every single comment you make (because that would in some way dignify….”
BS! You don’t respond because you can’t respond. Everyone knows what I said is true. There are always some women in every competitive situation i.e. the workplace that see sex as a tool for advancement and getting special beenies.
I have even heard the feminist mantra that sleeping with the boss for favoritism is justified because it counteracts the discrimination women face, yada, yada.
Your anti Semitism against my race and home country is most blatant. It is obvious that you’re itchin’ to call me a “camel jockey.” Why don’t you just come out once and scream it. FYI in my country we don’t even ride camels much, anymore.
$1 girl- You invited me to talk bluntly with you. What’s zamatter, was I too edgy for you. You enjoy vomiting on people's religious values and making nothing but snide remarks, pushing peoples hot buttons. Yet , like a typical liberal, you can’t handle any return fire. You think that no matter how cruel you are even the people you persecute, admire you for your passion and courage. Well that is not true. You are genuinely hated for who you are and what you believe, almost to the same level that you hate others. You came here to get an education , so get one. You are not loved. If you can’t handle competing with big boys then get back to your kitchen and stay there.
Please promise that you won’t someday sneak up behind your husband and murder him with a baseball bat because he likes to watch sports on TV.
Neither of you can compete with me. Dargus has manage to take me down a peg, once in a rare while, but neither of you even try.
mustafa 2 years, 1 month ago
Bill Maher says liberals forte is in being snide. What he dosen't say is that only liberals are be allowed to be snide. I know how to be very snide but liberals at this university must be protected. I've tried talking with the editors, apparently liberals girls need to be protected from snide remarks made by conservatives.
They're afraid someone like eightbitgirl will develope a hair-lip,or spend the rest of her life in the fetal position or even commit sucicide if I so much suggest that if she can't stand the heat then she should get into the kitchen.
Don't get me wrong I don't care if people call me names, I a big boy. But at least have to decency to allow me to be snide in response.
Why is that too much for liberals to bear?
cc eightbitgirl
mustafa 2 years, 1 month ago
Eightbit what makes you think you would be any great loss? What makes you think anyone should care about someone like you? You got some nerve telling me to give it up, when you don’t even try to compete.
mustafa 2 years, 1 month ago
“I can't be bothered to tell you what's offensive about every single comment you make (because that would in some way dignify….”
BS! You don’t respond because you can’t respond. Everyone knows what I said is true. There are always some women in every competitive situation i.e. the workplace that see sex as a tool for advancement and getting special beenies.
I have even heard the feminist mantra that sleeping with the boss for favoritism is justified because it counteracts the discrimination women face, yada, yada.
Neither of you can compete with me. Dargus has manage to take me down a peg, once in a rare while, but neither of you even try.
mustafa 2 years, 1 month ago
Editor - You let this jjanowik call me retarded, a moron. How are those not violations of the posting agreement? But you then you repeatedly shield him from even the mildest of responses. Five times I've had to sanitize a response and you still won't put on. I really cannot figure out what problem you have, other than liberal bias.
mustafa 2 years, 1 month ago
Dargus didn't have any on here. Janowicks were removed because they were deemed offensive. Even though I asked for them to remain the editors opted to removed them rather that post my rebuttal which they were afraid might drive some students to commit suicide.
dio 2 years, 1 month ago
They removed them, even after YOU asked them to remain!? They seriously need to kick out the censors and let a machine filter swear words and spambots instead. They should put an upvote/downvote feature for comments too, with an auto-hide like on Youtube. This whole moderation thing is purely retarded and backward.