To what extent should magazines be held responsible for the social ramifications of the representations they offer?
Many magazines that are aimed at teen girls promote some questionable things. They can make young girls unhappy with their bodies, they often promote physical attraction, make celebrities seem like idols and can contain unsuitable content.
Body image is a key feature in teen magazines. Models with good figures, that are dressed immaculately, with hair and make up done perfectly are plastered across the magazine. This can make young girls think that is is what they should look like - and if they don't, they think they aren't normal. Most of the images are photoshopped, making teens aspire to look like an unrealistic character. Front page models are often white; this can cause people that are of a different race to feel like the odd one out. All of this can make girls feel very insecure.
Throughout most teen magazines there is a strong emphasis on boys and physical attraction. Girls are encouraged to get boyfriends and most magazines. Quizes and articles about kissing and 'how to get the boy you want' are an example of the sort of content that many young teens are reading. Boys are often portrayed as celebrities - it makes girls believe that this is what boys are and should be like. This is extremely superficial and very shallow. By reading these articles teenage girls aspire to have attractive, perfect boyfriends at a young age; personality is not mentioned at all. Teenagers ideas of relationships become warped.
Celebrities are featured heavily in teen magazines. Posed/well organised photos are spread across the pages, again, making girls think that this is what they should look like. What the celebs do and say influences the readers a great deal. It puts pressure on them to act like them and be like them - they idolise these people. Not only does it put pressure on the teenagers, it puts pressure on parents. They want their children to be happy and have what they want. This can result in children and teenagers growing up too quickly.
Homosexuality is not mentioned at all in teen magazines. This can make some young people very confused and think that what they are thinking is wrong. Realising that you are gay can be a difficult time, and these magazines don't make it any easier. They focus on conventional stereotypes making teenagers think that that is the only way to be. Another issue that can arise from these magazines is eating disorders. More and more young girls are developing problems with they diet and view on how they look. Cases of bulimia and anorexia are being found in younger and younger teens. I think that this is because of the photoshopped photos of perfect models that girls see everyday. They don't see any real women on front covers of magazines.
Overall, I think that teen magazines are far too influential and are causing young girls to grow up too quickly. They aren't representing real life, or real women.
Throughout most teen magazines there is a strong emphasis on boys and physical attraction. Girls are encouraged to get boyfriends and most magazines. Quizes and articles about kissing and 'how to get the boy you want' are an example of the sort of content that many young teens are reading. Boys are often portrayed as celebrities - it makes girls believe that this is what boys are and should be like. This is extremely superficial and very shallow. By reading these articles teenage girls aspire to have attractive, perfect boyfriends at a young age; personality is not mentioned at all. Teenagers ideas of relationships become warped.
Celebrities are featured heavily in teen magazines. Posed/well organised photos are spread across the pages, again, making girls think that this is what they should look like. What the celebs do and say influences the readers a great deal. It puts pressure on them to act like them and be like them - they idolise these people. Not only does it put pressure on the teenagers, it puts pressure on parents. They want their children to be happy and have what they want. This can result in children and teenagers growing up too quickly.
Homosexuality is not mentioned at all in teen magazines. This can make some young people very confused and think that what they are thinking is wrong. Realising that you are gay can be a difficult time, and these magazines don't make it any easier. They focus on conventional stereotypes making teenagers think that that is the only way to be. Another issue that can arise from these magazines is eating disorders. More and more young girls are developing problems with they diet and view on how they look. Cases of bulimia and anorexia are being found in younger and younger teens. I think that this is because of the photoshopped photos of perfect models that girls see everyday. They don't see any real women on front covers of magazines.
Overall, I think that teen magazines are far too influential and are causing young girls to grow up too quickly. They aren't representing real life, or real women.
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