Maxim, FHM, Stuff: what are they really teaching men to expect in women?
Half-naked women on the cover of Maxim. Scantily clad women on the cover of FHM. Nearly nude women on the cover of Stuff. Inside it’s even worse: women in nothing but thongs striking sultry and suggestive poses. Big boobs, flat stomachs, tight asses, flawless skin, long flowing hair. That’s what real women look like right?
See, I have a little problem with these magazines, and it’s not necessarily what you’d expect. No, I don’t mind that my boyfriend reads them (he gets them all free, and I’ll admit, I read them too); I don’t suspect that he wishes I looked like those women; and I don’t feel threatened by air-brushed magazine models. I also don’t get jealous of these women and covet their bodies; I don’t wish I looked like them or feel inadequate compared to them. That’s not the problem either.
My problem is that I don’t have enough faith in *most* men to figure out that those women are not a realistic portrayal of real women. Some men know this, and fortunately I’ve found one for myself. But I hate that men are constantly bombarded by these images and risk misunderstanding that most women are taller, shorter, fatter, skinnier, smaller-breasted, more acne-ridden, and altogether different. They might come to expect that all women are capable of looking that way, and if we don’t, well then it’s our fault. Not nature’s.
If that’s what men are looking for when they encounter women, they may sadly miss the beauty in small perky breasts, big thighs, poochy stomachs, flat butts, pale skin, crooked smiles, and short pixie haircuts. They might expect that all women look flawless in a thong. Or that all women wear thongs!
They might overlook the exciting sex goddess in the “average-looking” woman wearing the baggy jeans and the hoodie because his sights are set on the big-breasted woman showing off her 28-inch waist in a too-tight tank and a mini-skirt. Who turns out to be a total bore.*
I want to believe that men can be smarter than this, can really appreciate the variety of bodies that women come in. I want to believe they know Maxim and FHM aren’t entirely realistic. And maybe all the worthwhile ones do. But I’m afraid that too many men are getting only one idea of what beauty is, and they’re missing out on all the other hotties out there!
So men, keep an eye out. We come in all shapes and sizes, and we’re damn pretty. Every one of us!
*No I’m not saying all “gorgeous” women are boring or that all “average-looking” women are sex goddesses. Don’t yell at me.
March 28th, 2006 at 12:16 am
For some reason I have the need to mention that I don’t really read Maxim, FHM, etc. And by that I mean I don’t even really stare oogly eyed at the pictures of women. Each issue that comes gets about 5-10 minutes of my time at most, usually when I’m eating cereal. In fact Shan, you’ve read most of my latest issues more than I have.
I did read the 100th issue of Maxim more because it had an interesting article about, well, the 100 issues of Maxim.
Anyways, I’m not trying to defend myself to your female readers. I’m just trying to state the fact that I think those magazines are on their way out. I’m seriously bored with them. I’ll get much more reading and/or entertaining pages out of Sports Illustrated, Giant, GQ, Blender, US News and World report, hell, even Nintendo Power.
And yes, I find much more excitement and sexuality from the woman laying next to me playing Tetris and Boggle on my Nintendo DS than I ever will from some nasty rag magazine.
March 28th, 2006 at 7:47 am
I never understood why Stuff magazine has a picture of a half naked woman on it…isn’t it about like high-tech gadgets and stuff?
March 28th, 2006 at 8:14 am
He’s telling the truth folks. But I thought you didn’t like GQ either.
March 28th, 2006 at 11:23 am
What? All women can’t look like that? I’m sure they can. They just need to get breast implants, and have no job so they can go to the gym for 2 hours a day. They also need to have a job that either pays them to look good, or have a sugar daddy to pay for all the manicures, hair appointments, and such. So yes, it can be done. It’s just not realistic.
I could have Brad Pitt’s body (only taller. (and sexier)), but I just dont’ have the time to eat enough calories in a day and work out 2 hours a day in order to increase my muscle mass while keeping a 6-pack. I can’t ignore my girlfriend that bad either.
Anyway… yeah. The girls in those magazines are hot. If you read their interviews (also conveniently featured in the magazine - some of you may not know this), they’re also vapid twits.
I’m just glad I found a girl who looks great in a thong, has great tits, loves to have sex (even with me!), and still is funny as hell and probably smarter than me. Damn. I need to marry that girl.
Robin - Stuff has half-naked women to sell their magazine. Guys don’t buy magazines on electronics… they use the internet. No one trusts this idiots to actually write a gadget review when the editor gets free samples, and the item is also advertised in the magazine. Acutally…. the internet has fully naked women, as well as user reviews of gadgets… so why do we need these magazines at all?
I lost my train of thought. I keep thinking about thongs. I bid you farewell.
March 28th, 2006 at 11:49 am
I once got a magazine called Sync that had a half-naked woman on the front. But inside it was all about tech and gadgets and stuff. It was really a good magazine. It had this funny article that listed 4 gadgets and asked three girls what they would think of a guy if he had these. Stuff like digital cameras and game boys and blackberry phones (oops!)
But alas, the magazine is no more. Wired is good though. Ah, what were we talking about again?
March 28th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
I don’t know. Something about thong magazines and the technology used to create them. Let hijack it to talk about the Pistons. Yay Pistons!
March 28th, 2006 at 12:36 pm
Good idea! But we might be marked as spam. Anyways, back to the Pistons…
Yeah they’re doing good, but I hope they can stay healthy down the stretch. It is the year of the upset, so I don’t think anyone’s safe in the playoffs. Especially is ‘Sheed get’s his 16 ‘T’ and gets suspended for a few games.
Ahh, much better than talking about thong gadgets.
March 28th, 2006 at 1:08 pm
I think we can stay healthy, I’m just worried about the energy level. Tonight’s game vs. the mavs is goignt o be a big game. I hope we can get up for it, and stay up on our 1.5 game lead for best record. We’ll see. I think we’ll be fine, especially since it is at home. I’m just disappointed that it will not be broadcast. My damn friend has tickets, but not enough for me. I’m a sad Panda.
March 28th, 2006 at 1:22 pm
I think it’s funny how people say “we” when they’re talking about a team they like. As if you maybe you’re part of the team, they just don’t let you play cuz you suck.
You guys are funny.
March 28th, 2006 at 1:36 pm
Strangely I used ‘they’….hmm.
Pistons tickets are the gold which I strive for. They are sustenance for life. I would give my left… ok maybe not. But wow, Pistons games are fun. the last two I went to were each of the last two year’s Finals game 3s. Ohh, good times.
March 29th, 2006 at 2:24 pm
I. The royal we, man. I’m also a player on the team. I swear.
October 31st, 2006 at 4:42 pm
i have really no problem with the magazines like FHM ,Stuff,Maxim, etc because i am 26 and still look great, have big boobs and a tight ass-i’ve worked very hard for it too( my tummy is another story but im still workin it)but my problem is what happens ladies when we start to get older? What happens when these magazines keep coming in, the girls get younger and younger while we get older? will we have gotten over them by then? the women in those magazines are very unrealistic and even when i see a hot half naked guy i really don’t care. if i was single maybe but nobody compares to my boyfriend who i love and worship 150%. i hope it’s the same when our boyfriends look at those pictures. For all due respect, i love men and couldn’t live without them. they are great friends and i’ve had some awesome relationships and looking at attrictive women is part of their nature just like ours.