A mother has taken to social media to voice her frustrations with a popular teen girls’ magazine, highlighting the troubling messages it sends to young girls. It’s a longstanding issue that we need to address: Why do we perpetuate the idea that girls should only focus on fashion and attracting boys?
Sharon Williams, a mother of three, made her point clear in an eye-opening Facebook post where she compared the covers of Girls’ Life and Boys’ Life magazines. While the names may sound similar, the content is worlds apart. Sharon wrote a compelling open letter to the editors of Girls’ Life, criticizing them for reducing girls to trivial topics like makeup tips and dating gossip.
“Your cover features a young girl with a full face of makeup promoting beauty secrets. In contrast, the Boys’ Life cover boldly states, ‘EXPLORE YOUR FUTURE,’ showcasing exciting careers like doctor, pilot, and engineer,” she pointed out. The difference in messaging is stark. Can we really be surprised that the themes for girls are often shallow, while boys are encouraged to dream big?
The media influences our girls in ways that can be damaging. We’re sending the message that their value is tied to their appearance, clothes, and what boys think of them. Sure, girls are encouraged to do well in school, but they often receive little encouragement to pursue serious careers.
Sharon didn’t stop at just the covers; she called attention to the content inside the magazines. “Your true stories are things like ‘real girls kiss and tell,’ while Boys’ Life features ‘True stories of firefighters in action.’ What are we teaching our girls?” she asked, highlighting the absurdity of the messages being pushed.
With cover lines like “Wake up pretty!” and “100+ ways to SLAY on the first day!”, it’s hard to believe that this magazine is run by women who are presumably intelligent and professional. Why perpetuate these outdated images? One can only assume it’s in the name of profit, a trend seen across many publications.
It’s not that we should ignore fashion, beauty, and hair, but let’s not forget that women are so much more than that. By continuing to support these magazines, we become part of the problem. We have the power to demand better for our daughters. We can challenge the reductive narratives that limit their potential.
“You CAN fight against the objectification of girls. You CAN create stories that empower them beyond just looks,” Sharon concluded, stating that perhaps her daughters would be better off with Boys’ Life, as the quiz she wants for them isn’t “Am I ready for a boyfriend?” but “What do I want to be?”
If you’re interested in more on this topic, you can check out other insightful discussions on pregnancy and family planning at Cleveland Clinic’s IVF and Fertility Preservation podcast and learn about the journey of trying to conceive with helpful resources from Make A Mom.
In summary, this mother’s powerful message calls for a change in the way we communicate with our girls, encouraging them to aspire for more than just superficiality. It’s time we rethink the messages we send—and demand better for the next generation.