elle

 This started as a facebook status, but it took on a life of its own, and so I thought I'd give it a little more room to breathe.  

I clicked on a link a friend posted about the newly defined "emerging adult" stage of life (aka lots of us 20 somethings drifting a little, rather than settling into the academic version of adulthood -- done with school, financially independent, moved out, married, with kids) and instead taking time to sample lots of different life choices, citing 2 new books about the phenomenon, with various sociological and psychological studies pieced in around the edges... so it turns out it was in Elle magazine. how dismayed was I when the list of recommended / trending articles along the side was as follows:

Look Thinner Instantly
This Season's Trends to Buy Now
Easy Updos for All Hair Lengths
Look Amazing in Summer's Daring Trends
Our Favorite Blonde Shades for Summer
Wallet-Friendly Necessities Under $100
100 Swimsuits for Every Body Type
What's in the Bag: Summer Essentials
23 Gorgeous Designer Bags
23 Sexy Ideas for Long Hair
8 Beauty Products That Will Save Your Life
Ways to Wear the One-Piece On and Off the Sand
30 Dresses for Your Next Summer Soirée
Beach Must-Haves for Every Astrological Sign
10 Signs Your Wardrobe Needs a Complete Overhaul

In what universe is THIS what "elle" -- any woman -- is supposed to be focusing on? not one article that seems worth the paper it's printed on, if you're a person looking to read about anything other than looking some idealized, commercialized version of "beautiful" -- which I'm sure is accompanied by airbrushed photos of starving women selling you products that somehow are supposed to make you more worthy (because, what, your worth comes with your handbag? your looks? certainly not what's in your head, if that's all you're reading....). what the hell.

A quick review -- what Elle is helping women achieve, and what women are reading about, theoretically with some hope to achieve said goals, is to be : 1) thin, 2) rich, 3) beautiful, 4) rich and beautiful (fashionable?), 5) blonde, 6) a consumer even if you don't have money to spend, 7) in a bikini, 8) using who knows how many products in order to be beautiful (see #3 and 4), 9) rich again, 10) sexy, 11) see #8, 12) see #4 and #7, 13) fashionable again, 14) a consumer and an astrology addict aaaannnnddd 15) a consumer, because what they have isn't anywhere good enough.

again, what the hell.  this is not in any way the definition of woman that I want to adhere to or be associated with.  a "women's magazine" full of propaganda for a patriarchal system designed to keep women in their place as less powerful, less worthy, less influential compared to men is not a women's magazine.  how dare they.

 http://www.elle.com/life-love/society-career/twenty-something-to-be-young