Today I was at Meijer on a grocery trip when I noticed that at the checkout counter, on the magazine rack the Cosmopolitan Magazine was flipped backwards. I looked around me and saw that this theme persisted in every checkout counter throughout the store. I quickly adjusted the rack in my aisle so that a scantily clad Lady Gaga was visible to everyone. I felt a compulsion to fix all the magazine racks in the store. I’m regretting that I didn’t.
I can’t say for sure I know why the magazines were flipped over. Was it one angry person on a mission, going from aisle to aisle making sure no one else was offended or was the store management behind it? Some people called in and complained, maybe? No matter what, I’m sure that it was because someone, somewhere felt that the overt sexuality portrayed on the cover was not appropriate for consumers and needed to be covered up.
I don’t like Lady Gaga. I don’t like Cosmopolitan. I also think that a magazine cover with the word “sex” on three times isn’t appropriate for young children. I don’t think that I have the right, nor would I want the right, to keep it out of the hands of those that are interested in its contents. I also feel as if sexual content of this nature is prevalent in our society and that parents should engage in open dialogue with their children regarding their own beliefs on such matters.
Maybe I need a little more time to mull this over before I can adequately articulate my feelings on this issue. Right now all I can think to write is that this type of suppression frightens me deeply.
See! You too can be a famous woman if you show us your naughty bits (or pretend to anyway) and maybe have some smidgen of talent on top of that. I want there to be positive role models for girls and women in our society and not this quasi crap that passes for culture.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I don't think turning the covers around will solve anything. Women in some middle eastern countries are covered head to toe in black tents in order to cover up their sexuality as well as their personality. That is the other extreme I think.
We gotta be somewhere in the middle but it's hard when trash culture vs. religious extremism are the only options we are offered.
I think my mother was in the grocery store - I expect her at the door any moment.
ReplyDeleteI've been hit with this alot lately. Not sure what the answer is here. My friends have been asking for me my thoughts on porn and could I recommend feminist porn.
My first reaction is to flip them all over - because I'm a rebellious child.
I grew up in home where talk of sex was forbidden. I would purchase Comso on the QT - only to have my mother sniff out my stash and then I'd get in boat load of trouble. No regrets though.
I think in general folks are just too uptight about sex. Violence is endorsed and encouraged in our society but love, compassion, and sex are just all bad to Americans for some reason.
I tend to think this is another form of female oppression. I don't know. You've stumped me with this one. Good work!