But the title of the article was "How to gain self esteem"...

My guess is that many of you out there have read at least one issue of (insert magazine aimed at teen girls here).� And so you know what they're all about, right?� The first 20 or so pages are all ads for DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi's, Neutrogena, and Cover Girl (all of these have trademarks, but I'm using them anyway!).� Then, you get to the embarassing stories, beauty section, tips on guys, blah blah blah.� You know what I mean.� And right about now, you're probably wondering where I'm going with this, right?
Okay, here's the deal.
These magazines claim, in their advice sections, that we should all have self confidence, no matter what we look like.� We should accept ourselves for who we are, not worry what the opposite sex thinks of us (by "us", I mostly mean girls), and love ourselves enough not to develop an eating disorder.� I have one word to say to that.
Hypocrisy.
Pure and simple.� The advice is the same in nearly every magazine, then, on the page facing the advice, there is a picture of a size 4 model (maybe I'm giving them too much credit, make that a size 2 model) in a teeny tube top and denim shorts which barely cover her butt.� She is on the beach and surrounded by surfer guys in board shorts.� Yet they tell us to accept ourselves as we are and not to worry what guys think.� What teen girl do you know who isn't going to be affected by that ad?� I sure don't know any.
Perhaps you think I'm being cynical and bitter about this.� Maybe.� But I'm only telling it like it is.� I'm calling it as I see it.
I recently read an article in Seventeen that was titled "You don't have to be a size 6 to be happy". I was so full of hope when I saw it. Then, I started to read it. The three girls they portrayed were a size 8, a size 10, and a size 11. The size 11 had long legs and found it hard to find jeans that fit her. We should all have that problem. *sigh* Needless to say, I was quite unfulfilled after reading the article.
The other day I was flipping through an issue of YM, a fairly recent issue.� In the advice column, a girl was upset because kids teased her when she was a size 18.� Now, she is a size 12, and she wants to know how she can face those same people without feeling pain.� The magazine told her to just have self-confidence, boost her self esteem, and everything would be fine.� A few pages down, there was an article on how to dress slimmer.� The model they had looked to be a size 12, possibly 14.� In essence, they are telling their readers that they shouldn't care how others think of them, but here are some nifty tips on how to make yourself look slimmer for those same people!� One step forward, two steps back.
*sigh*
In the editorial sections, these magazines tell their readers that they are working to represent a more diverse group of girls.� And they are!� I'm seeing more african americans, more asians, more latinas, and more girls size 4 to 10.� I guess 12 and above doesn't rank.� Who knows.� All I know is that very often, these magazines totally contradict themselves.
Now, I must add something of my own, a disclaimer of sorts.� I realize that there are girls out there who are naturally skinny.� They can eat and eat and never gain an ounce (by the way, hi Nicole!).� This "rant" was not meant as an attack on them.� It is merely an attack on magazines who preach one thing, yet practice quite another.
Well, I guess that's about all I can write on this topic.� If you'll excuse me, I have to go cancel a subscription.