in thinking women's magazines make women out to be stupid, and many of us are complicit

[RitaLynn]

After years of reading my mum's magazines and those left around in doctors' surgeries, I've come to the conclusion that women's magazines largely make women out to be stupid.

They're full of news-lite stories, fake health information (detox), celeb stuff, psychic stuff and horoscopes.

In contrast, there are lads magazines, targetted at young men, but there aren't men's magazines in the same sense, that work on daft stereotypes. If men are reading magazines, they're reading The Economist, or New Statesman, Prospect etc.

Am I being unreasonable to suggest that women's magazines make women out to be stupid, and too many of us are complicit?

I can't understand why people can't see that even the copy is advertising. It's all one big advert - those recommendations aren't real!

I prefer to read about girlie things like fashion in the newspaper. It's much more intelligent and I don't think they pander to advertisers quite so much.

I rarely read magazines but one which is really interesting without being too heavy is Intelligent Life. I like the fact it is quarterly as I don't have enough time to read anything really.

most print media have an agenda esp in flattery advertorials gushing about must have product

I bought Red for the first time last month. I was tempted by the massive 'headline' at the very top of the front cover, something along the lines of "one pot wonder cooking".

Brilliant I thought, I could do with some one pot recipies.........

In reality this article was for one recipe- a crumble!!

WTF - a crumble! Their leading front cover line was for an easy crumble, for goodness sake!

I felt conned, was actually tempted to complain!! Not sure who I would have complained to though.

What a complete waste of paper. Rant over.

So what did the editor of nuts say irt the grays/keys scandal then UQD? I can't quite believe that he reacted with intelligence and humour. you're going to have to convince me.

It wasn't directly to do with lineswomaning, but more in response to that Redknapp comment video and how they'd never discuss women in those terms at "Nuts", as they were more about "celebrating their beauty and charm." Said with tongue darting in and out of cheek, I feel...

I buy trashy heat magazine every week. It is my guilty pleasure. Sometimes it is nice to wallow for 10 minutes in complete unadulterated rubbish.

Otherwise buy the EConomist sometimes and New Scientist more regularly.

I could rant for hours on end about Grazia, it really is trash, dressed up as something more intelligent.

I must say I cannot envisage a more depressing work environment than that of a glossy fashion magazine. It must be hell.

hmmmmmmmmm.

I also had an epiphany one day when I realised that I was spending my hard earned money on glossy crap [Red, Marie Claire] that seemed to recycle the same old articles on the "must have" lipstick and hand-bag or how to gain self-esteem or the perfect relationship, insipid celebrity interviews...

They just became boring and I would find myself skimming through resenting having spent nearly £4 on this rubbish.