Journal Posting #9. A Woman's "Bible"

After reading the introduction, the first recognition and connection that came to my mind was how the magazine industry attracted primarily women's attention. Even during the late 1880s, "advertisements for women's clothing and accessories... fashion, housekeeping, medicine, politics" were common articles depicted in magazines (p.28). It is amazing how magazines know how to lure women into buying them, reading them, and believing the information they advertise. Even today, I wait in line to check out and find numerous magazines ranging from good housekeeping tips, food recipes, fitness workouts,  the latest fashion trends, and how to sexually appeal to society. With these mindsets being planted into women's heads during the 1800s, how can women today NOT fall for these "tips" and "secrets?" "the emergence of a series of magazines [were] specifically designed to appeal to [women's] interests and tastes" (p.27). Magazines represent the "ideal" woman; a sexually appealing, physically fit, healthy homemaker and impressive cook; all characteristics that seem easy to obtain, but only if you buy the magazine. It is because of the magazine expectations that woman, who are supposed to be strong, courageous, confident both inside and out, feel so insecure, unsure and unsatisfied with themselves or their body. Did women during the 1800s feel this way too? Perhaps this unrealistic perception only became an issue after photoshop and airbrushing were invented, which transform the already perfect "models" into even more unrealistic representable figures. These models, whom starve and suffer severe health issues, are the "models" that adolescent girls admire and wish to be. Why? Why would one dream of becoming skin and bones, suffering damage to their body, and yet still not being perfect to Magazine editors? Whether this unrealistic figure came about during society in the late 1800s or today, magazines have been able to persuade and lure the female species for centuries, and even still today, to believe in the unachievable.