cosmopolicrap

Do NOT read women's magazines. I don't care what it is -- Cosmo, Redbook, Glamour, Self. Do not read them. If there is one thing in our society (and there isn't just one thing; there are many things) that make women feel less than, it would be these poor excuses for informational resources. They do not truly exist to make you a better you. They exist to make money.

And how do you think they make their money? By capitalizing on our insecurities. How do they do that? Their advertisers. Who are their advertisers? All those companies who need to tell you that you are not pretty enough, thin enough, healthy enough, whatever enough so that you will buy their crap. To emphasize all of this, they use impossible to copy supermodels and actresses to schlep their brands. Photoshopped supermodels and actresses. I mean, c'mon! Why do we look at those pics and really believe that she is perfectly proportioned, with perfect hair and skin, and big boobs that don't droop? Sorry fellas, real boobs don't stand at attention without some help.

And have you every noticed that these magazines just recycle the same old shitty info month after month? Seriously, when does the core information they are spewing ever change? They are very good at connecting to the basic concerns of almost every woman and making us feel like they understand and care. They give us stories of women just like us, going through exactly what we are, and making us feel not so alone with our deficiencies. They give beauty advice so that we can fix all of our flaws. They tell us how to eat and exercise because we just aren't thin enough. Oh, and don't forget that we need to know how to dress from season to season because we just aren't smart enough to figure that out. And men? Are they really that complicated? And how much new sex advice can they possible come up with that's truly new and different?

And what if we did follow all of their advice? Would we be better? Perfect? Doubt it.

So, if you would like to improve your self-esteem a hundred-fold, don't buy them, read them, or even flip through them. That's my advice. And I didn't even need to use a supermodel to give it.