Moving onward…

The recent release of Elizabeth Edwards book has really struck a cord with the news media—something, I’m sure, her book sales will appreciate. Mrs. Edwards started things off with a bang by conducting her first interview with the queen bee Oprah. Since, she’s been interviewed by NPR’s Michelle Norris and evaluated by a number of sites, including Slate and The Huffington Post.

I suppose the most important thing I’m trying to assess about all of this is whether or not this book ultimately helps women or hurts them. I felt the same way about Elliot Spitzer’s wife. Is it noble to stand by your man as Tammy Wynette would say? Or does it send the wrong message to womankind that money and politics are more important than one’s self-worth and emotional health?

Perhaps Mrs. Edwards wrote her book to help other women who are trying to pick up the pieces after an affair or who are battling cancer. It’s clear that Mrs. Edwards e isn’t over the hurt and pain John caused her. I commend her for not pretending that everything is perfect, but it’s hard for me to imagine that her story comes without an alterior motive. Nevertheless, I feel sorry for all parties involved, most especially the children.

• Kate Moss: Key lecturer at this year’s Institute of Clinical Research Annual Spring Conference and Exhibition
• Kate Perry: Successful Denver relator
• Ashley Olson: Uncorrupted 14-year-old who was in a Texas wedding in October
• Mandy Moore: Canadian knitting graffiti artist
• Cortney Love: Just another face in the book

These ladies have to spend the rest of their lives battling bad jokes and giggles. It isn’t necessarily their parents’ fault, after all, you can’t foresee which blandly-named femme fatal will hit fame next. However, these crossovers can be avoid by simply not allowing your daughter’s name to end in -e or -y. Better yet, visit www.babynames.com and pick a weird one.

It’s really hard for me to shake this stereotype when I read articles titled “22 of the Hottest Celebrity Women that Play Video Games.” The article was featured on Digg but originated from the gaming Web site PWN or Die. I’m not going to knock these guys for having a hobby. Everyone does. I am, however, going to make fun of them for using their hobby as another excuse to oggle over women they don’t know (and never will). But what can you expect from a punch of guys who live out their lives in the virtual world?

• 30 Things to Do with a Naked Man
• What Men Still Don’t Understand About Women
• What His Body Language Is Telling You
• The Beauty Product That Changed My Life
• Sexy Hair Secrets

The topics aren’t always overtly pointing to the ways a woman can please her man (some are, just visit their website), but a man is still at the core of each topic. The first three topics on the list are trying to offer insight into relationships, upholding the value that women should always be relationship conscious. Regardless if the focus has shifted somewhat toward what pleases a woman, it is clear these articles maintain that a healthy relationship creates happiness above most other things. It submits the idea that a woman should focus most of her energy toward either finding a partner or keeping the one she’s got happy. In the second two topics the issue of beauty comes up. You could argue that women often focus on beauty because it makes them feel strong and confident, however attracting male attention makes up a huge part of this. The point is, even today many women’s magazines still point the compass toward relationships, whether they camouflage it or not. They prey on a woman’s desire to have a happy relationship, turning it into a multi-million dollar beauty advertising industry and a cheap go-to for bogus dating and sex advice. I may not be saying anything new, but then again, neither is Cosmo.

If this is an accurate picture of what happened to Rihanna, she is truly a victim. Not just at the hands of Chris Brown. But at the hands of the media who have splashed her unfortunate circumstance all over the Internet. At the time of this post, the TMZ link comes up as the 9th entry on the first page of a Google search for “Rihanna.”

Gawker posted it on the front page, not allowing visitors to decide if they wanted to see the image or not.

However, Gawker Media Network-owned Jezebel.com, chose to not publish the photo. Instead they started a discussion, posing the question: “is posting such a photo exploitative or educational? (Is it both?).” The discussions that started on the comment pages are worth taking a look at.

I think there’s something to be said for celebrities, actors and musicians making their life from the fascination the public has with their lives. And to some degree I think certain celebrities use the drama of their personal lives (whether real or fabricated) as currency.

But this is a woman who has clearly faced violence. I have very mixed feelings about the public-ness of her situation. Yes, she could serve as an example for battered woman and draw attention to the terrible problem that is so often ignored. However, shouldn’t she also have the same confidentiality offered by domestic abuse shelters and crisis centers? It should be her right to share, not her right to comment on what has already been spread through the media.

***Note: I’m not linking to any of the sites, except for the Jezebel post. It should be your choice to see the image, and so many of the sites still have the picture splashed on the front page.

If you read more about what some great women of letters have on their mind, you wouldn’t just be drooling over “women we love” from afar. Hey, even slippery old Chris Hitchens, who doesn’t think women are funny, recommends that everyone read Jane Austen… because “she’s so hilarious about other women” in Northanger Abbey.

Normally I wouldn’t be surprised by the list’s lack of femininity, except Esquire isn’t known for snubbing female authors. Mo Jo felt the same:

Go back to your cages and flip through some old issues of Esquire. You gave Gloria Steinem her start; Dorothy Parker and Nora Ephron both used to write columns for you. Joan Didion, Martha Gellhorn, Susan Orlean and Simone De Beauvoir all grace your back issues. Isak Dinesen, Rebecca West, M.F.K. Fisher, Susan Brownmiller, Susan Sontag, Joyce Carol Oates, and Grace Paley made appearances too.

Esquire, your readership is roughly 30 percent female, a fact I’m sure you keep on the DL around advertisers. However, even if your readership was 100 percent male, the Esquire man isn’t shovanistic. He’s well-rounded and educated. And I’m sure he demands the same from his favorite mag.

Visit Mo Jo’s Web site and let them know who you think should have made the list.

This may be shocking to some of you since our Web site is dedicated to the portrayal of women in the media. Let me explain.

I respect Playboy because they don’t pretend to be something they’re not–we like girls, preferably naked, but little clothing works too. Deal with it. If Playboy were a guy, he’d be an out-in-the-open player (much like Hugh Hefner). You know, the guy that tells you he’s also seeing four other women BEFORE your first date. You know what you’re getting into with Playboy. So if you wind up with your heart broken, it’s your own damn fault.

From a journalist’s perspective Playboy is also extremely savvy. They began branding themselves as a multi-platform brand ages ago, and they know when to quit when something doesn’t work. In January, Playboy announced that they are moving their editorial offices back to Chicago to save some dough (Aranya is planning their welcome party) and named Jimmy Jellinek (cross-platform extraordinaire) as their new editorial director over the print and the digital. These are bold moves, but at least Playboy knows when to make a change.

Cosmo, however, is nothing it professes to be–we are a progressive magazine for women who are comfortable with themselves inside and out. Just typing that made me laugh.

Dear Cosmo Reader,

You’re so independent and confident, that’s why we’re going to tell you 100 ways you can trick your crush into liking you. And if that works, we’re going to give you pointers about fulfilling his every fantasy in the bedroom because we all know he’s out of there if you’re not perfect in the sack.

If Cosmo were a man (ironic, I know), he’d be the “nice” guy turned asshole who cheats on you with your best friend. And once it’s finally over, he’ll take every bit of your self-esteem with him.

Okay so maybe I went out on a limb there, but honesty is crucial in life AND business. A publication should be forthcoming with their readers. They should have their best interest at heart, and from where I’m sitting, Cosmo does neither. They do, however, do an excellent job of repeating stories and presenting their brand in the same stagnat way since Helen Gurley Brown became editor in 1965.

Sorry Cosmo, but I hate your guts.

Super Skinny Me - Part 1

Super Skinny Me - Part 5