Formative Years Of Teen Magazine

The Formative Years and Teen Magazines Even before television and other modern day technologies, the media, in many shapes and forms, have been ever present in society. Whether it is newspapers, magazines, radio shows, or advertisements, the media have played a large role in determining society’s viewpoint and understanding of many issues. More recently there have been much controversy over the idea of female beauty standards and the effect the media have on them, particularly magazines that target girls ages thirteen to eighteen. Parents and various teen advocacy groups argue that the messages and images being depicted in magazines, such as Teen Vogue and Seventeen Magazine, are negatively affecting the self-esteem and body image of young …show more content…
With over 100,000 signatures already from young women as well as celebrities, the Body Peace Project promotes a lifestyle that “inspires readers to change their negative views of their bodies” (Body Peace Project). Seventeen Magazine, specifically, realized that there was an issue with the way young women were negatively viewing their bodies and in turn they began the campaign to initiate a different way of thinking. By laying it out in a simple list form, the magazine makes it easier for readers to apply the points to their daily lives. The treaty includes things like, “know that I'm already beautiful just the way I am” and “remember that sometimes I will have down moments. And in those times, I will remind myself of how awesome I am by looking in the mirror and saying, ‘I'm good! I can do this! I'm number one!’” (Body Peace Treaty). The feedback from the project have been primarily positive and the efforts being made by Seventeen Magazine show that they care about their …show more content…
Included in the up close photograph of the actress was a caption stating “Love Your Curves: Celebs Share Their Self-Confidence Secrets ”. Many young women look to celebrities as role models, by having the celebrities tell their own body-image stories in the magazine it allows readers to relate to them on a different, more personal level. By including celebrity stories in their magazines the readers are encouraged to share their stories and struggles related to body-image and self-esteem. Barton Goldsmith, who is a writer for Psychology Today and has a Ph.D. in Emotional Fitness, writes in his article “Talk About your Problems, Please” that it is necessary for people to have an outlet to discuss their emotional health.
Learning that it's okay to talk about our problems can feel a bit like a trip to the dentist. You know that the discomfort will stop once you get the tooth fixed, but you don't want to go through the process because it hurts too. And sometimes, with emotional issues, you may be embarrassed to share what's really going on for you. That's why it's so important to talk with someone who is comforting and nonjudgmental.