Killing us Softly – Media vs. Women

Instead of writing up a long post on the battle between media and women, I will just post a link to a video that basically says it all. It is a debate that has been going on for fourty years and it will most likely continue for many more. It is a problem that cannot be solved instantly, if ever. Society has created media and eventually media has started to create society. It has formed a circle we don’t know how to break out of yet. But maybe the future generations will know how. Of course, media is never all bad and evil, but it has its dark sides and this is definitely one of them.

 

Plussize in Media and Society

Yesterday I stumbled upon an article about Robyn Lawley, a stunning young model, who did a bikini shoot. Now what really surprised, shocked and bothered me about said article was that Miss Lawley was described as a plussize model.

I wish to ask you all, are we really living in a society where this body type is considered plussize? Yes, she is not a size 0 or a size 36 for that matter, but this is far from plussize! This is what I would consider normal or average size! My problem is really just with the term they have used to describe her.

What the media often forget, or perhaps just ignore, is that their terms do feed into society. This is what people on the street will label as plussize as well, not just the fashion industry. Plussize was a neutral term I always associated with women like me, sizes 46 upwards. What are they gonna call us now? Is there a need to invent a new term? Real plussize to me are models like this. Women I can identify with from a body shape perspective and who can give me fashion tips relevant to me. You cannot pick a woman of size 40 and let her model clothes for women of size 50. This only leads to reduced self-confidence in the customers and disappointments when the clothes dont fit well or dont look good on a different body type.

I understand that the media try to be aesthetically pleasing, but claiming that nobody wants to look at adverts of plussize women is not only insulting, but wrong. At least partly. The media claim to know what society does or does not want to see. But guess what? They have shaped their tastes in the first place! And yes, it will take effort to broaden society’s general view on things, but the media do have the power to do this. They just dont seem to want to take the risk or put in the effort! The pro-plussize voices are there, but are barely heard under the weight of the mainstream views on beauty and what can and cannot be effiective in advertising. I personally really hope, that society and the media will come around one day and lose their inhibitions about portraying plussize women in normal mainstream media in a positive way.

Until then, enjoy two pictures from plussize magazines that prove that curves really can be beautiful. And dont tell me anyone would be really upset or offended by this!

Fashion/Lifestyle Magazines for Plus Size Women

Let’s talk a little about print again, shall we? After my last Cosmo article, I wish to talk about a specific type of niche publications. When going to a newsstand, you will find a large selection of fashion magazines and lifestyle sources, all trying to outsell each other. Big titles such as “Glamour”, “Cosmopolitan”, “Myself” or “Vogue” will try to get your attention with perfect models on their covers and the promise of the newest trends and flirting tricks. But what about magazines directed at curvy women, catered specially towards their needs? This gap is mostly filled by blogs here in Europe, but I was excited to find that there are professionally created magazines for this specific niche group. Unfortunately they are all US based, so the events they advertise are out of my reach, but I still decided to take a closer look regardless and I was not disappointed. I was immensely happy to find the magazines, even though still in online format, to be very similar to the fashion press I find in the stores. The fashion shoots with plus size models are gorgeous and incredibly uplifting and inspirational! But before I get ahead of myself with descriptions and praise, let me introduce the two treasures I have found.

First we have Plus Model Mag, which in my mind can be more closely associated with magazines such as Vogue rather than Cosmo. It contains more glamorous fashion images than lifestyle advice, but the professional photography shows how beautiful curves can be and that bigger women can be amazing models as well. The fashion can be very inspirational as well, though the garments are from high end designers and thus not suited for those who wish to research affordable day-wear. But a little investigation into what is ‘in’ in the world of glitz and glamour never hurt anyone, right? Besides, a girl can always dream to own some fancy garments.

And then we have Daily Venus Diva, something more akin to Glamour and Cosmo. From what I have seen, it comes both in print as well as in online format, making it easily accessible to everyone. Their updates contain everything from fashion to beauty tricks as well as lifestyle and relationship questions. It is definitely interesting to make some direct comparisons with the mainstream fashion press.

Overall, I find Daily Venus Diva more lighthearted than Plus Model Mag, but I guess it’s a little hard to directly compare something such as Vogue with something like Cosmo. But both have their own merits and both are immensely interesting. Especially when aimed at women my size. What my point is ultimately however, is that I wish such magazines existed in print here in Germany as well. Being plussize is still such a shameful thing and I think that such magazines would help bigger women feel better about themselves, more sexy and desirable. Reading Cosmo is entertaining and fun, as I mentioned already, but it is also nice to find a magazine aimed especially at your demographic. I am just amazed that no publisher here as recognized the potential of this particular niche market yet. But perhaps society is simply not ready yet to accept that curves are really beautiful and is just throwing about empty praises about them instead. But maybe one day I can walk to a newsstand and actually pick up a Lifestyle and Fashion magazine with a woman on the cover I can actually identify with.

Why I still read “Cosmopolitan” (without shame)

Today I want to venture into the world of print and talk about “Cosmopolitan” magazine, which pretty much the majority of females my age should know. Even if they have never picked up a copy in their lives, they probably have at least heard the name. Its like one of those ‘lifestyle-guru’ magazines, which promises you tips on how to lead a perfectly fashionable life, always looking great, always succeeding in your job, always finding the dream guy and always having the most amazing sex in the world. Sure, its a fantasy every woman dreams of, but how realistic is this magazine really? Especially for plus size women, like me?

So of course it doesnt take a genius to say that of course the magazine is not entirely realistic. There is no magic formula for the perfect life, no matter what the magazine offers. Yet still women love it, maybe because it at least gives you the illusion to know how to make your life perfect. Besides, I have to admit that the articles are extremely entertaining at times.

But I also have to say that they definitely arent targeted at plus size women. Occasionally the magazine covers topics specific to larger ladies, but more often than not, like most fashion magazines, it is targeted towards a group of women fitting into the smaller sizes at stores. This doesnt only apply to their fashion, but very often also to their lifestyle and flirting tricks. Maybe Im just being pessimistic, but a lot of the tricks they offer, would never work with a larger woman. Guys would probably just look at them, wondering what kind of creeps they are. Or maybe I really just havent had any luck trying those Cosmo techniques. Still, I feel that I am not really part of their desired audience.

But why do I still read it then, when it appears that I dont have many good things to say about this publication? Well, I kinda answered that already. Its entertaining. It feeds you the illusion of utmost feminine power and knowledge. It makes you think: “Yeah, I know how to look fashionable on a budget, I know the top positions in bed that make a guy go wild and I also know the top things you should not do in a friendship.” Most of these things are very common sense and we probably all knew them before even opening the magazine, but still, reading it gives you the confirmation that you know the right things. Sometimes I really find myself complaining about the magazine, yet I am still a little Cosmo addict. I follow them on twitter and I buy the magazine regularly.

I guess its the same as when you like trash TV. You know its not really good and not even targeted at you, yet you still consume it, just because its so enjoyable.
And thats, ladies (and maybe gentlemen) is why I still read Cosmo without being ashamed of it.