Good article in Independent about las mags

[JessinAvalon]

Link to Independent article

[DavidStHubbins]

You know that the whole concept of a 'Lads Mag' has been in decline for many years?

'Nuts' and 'Zoo' were weekly titles launched at the top of the market, as it were. The heyday of 'Loaded' et al. is long gone. I would surmise that the whole sector is in terminal decline.

For feminists, I guess that 'Lads Mags' are kind of 'low hanging fruit' - easy to kick when they are down.

[wukter]

The whole concept davidStHubbins? Do tell more.

[DavidStHubbins]

Nah, I'll indulge you while you tell me what you find objectionable about them...

[sethstarkaddersmum]

great link Jess, thanks.

' Zoo prefers to show images of Jodie Marsh sucking a lollipop while a teddy bear obscures her genitals;'

Christ.

[Sakura]

DavidStGubbins If the sector is in decline, then that can only be because the pornification of society is more mainstream. You are right, feminists should be focusing on advertisers and companies who use explicit images where children can see them. BUt Lads Mags are a good place to start.

[JessinAvalon]

It was good to have an article like this written by a man. As I said in another thread, I think men should be insulted by being treated as a stereotype by these magazines.

I've been monitoring the sales of 'men's lifestyle mags' for 3 years now and the sales of the cheaper magazines have been heavily in decline. It does amaze me that shops like WHSmith and Tesco persist in displaying them so prominently when fewer people are buying them and more and more people are complaining.

[JessinAvalon]

Sakura-I do think that lads mags should be a focus though as all too often they are on display where children can see them (plus they are extremely offensive anyway!). Superdrug in some stores had them on sale next to the CBeebies mags until customers complained.

[electrokin]

My view on the toxic nature of "lads mags" is tied to the demarcation of interest.

"women's mag" have to be about gossip, cooking and housekeeping, "men's mags" have to be about cars, drinking and semi-naked women.

I fear for my son who is going to grow up in a world where a) he's not "supposed" to read the women's mags. And b) the magazine culture is telling him that men and women have different interests by default.

That and they're revoltingly sexist of course...

[tabouleh]

DavidStHubbins - many parents find it unacceptable that their DCs are subjected to the images on the front cover of these magazines whilst out shopping.

Clearly others (myself included) have wider objections - based around the objectification of women.

However I am interested to see whether you think that children should be protected from those sorts of images.

I'm sure you'd like to advise MN about it's planned campaign on this.

[JessinAvalon]

I'm sure that he will agree with our aims but not with our means like any good concern troll.