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Magazine cover straight out of the 70s. So depressing

78 replies

EmilyDickinson · 02/04/2023 09:13

I was shopping in the supermarket and stopped to look at the magazines. I bought my husband a running magazine recently and it had lots of useful articles in, so, as I run myself and I’m interested in getting healthier, I stopped to look at the Women’s Health magazine.

So shocked and depressed. It’s like something out of the 70s. The image seems designed purely to titillate any men looking at the magazine - why? No woman would actually exercise dressed like that. Highcut leotard? On a bike? Impractical and uncomfortable. Hair not tied back. Leg warmers?! And high heels, WTF? Plus, of course, the woman isn’t exercising, just posing for the male gaze. It feels like we’re just going backwards in the way women are perceived. We couldn’t possibly actually want to exercise like men do. We’re just sex objects.

Magazine cover straight out of the 70s. So depressing
OP posts:
JenniferBooth · 02/04/2023 18:45

@667TheNeighbourOfTheBeast There was a naughty mag for women back in the 2000s called Scarlet which banned diets for the whole of the time it was in print.
I dont see anything wrong with the Joanna Lumley cover either. Speaking of Hearst though i used to love Red but it has really gone downhill in recent months so havent bought any Red issues this year. Ive noticed their covers are quite generic now too. I wonder whats going on.

CarpyDiem · 02/04/2023 19:20

It's her on the cover, because she is the featured story (Ekin Su, the story mentioned on the bottom left of the cover).

I know there have been a number of pieces in various outlets about her weights regime, which is not reflected in this cover (as she's on a bike - cardio - nothing to do with weights)

So perhaps not a totally improbable choice for a fitness/lifestyle mag. Workout gear is the norm for this mag's cover. And the athlete/PTI/guru is always in make up too (probably for photographic definition)

Greenfairydust · 02/04/2023 19:32

I think I probably buy one of these magazines a year if that...

Because the content is invariably inane, boring fluff and because of all the ridiculous obsession about bland physical perfection.

I have no idea who these magazines appeal to these days.

CarpyDiem · 02/04/2023 19:41

Greenfairydust · 02/04/2023 19:32

I think I probably buy one of these magazines a year if that...

Because the content is invariably inane, boring fluff and because of all the ridiculous obsession about bland physical perfection.

I have no idea who these magazines appeal to these days.

Presumably the u30s, as they're assuming their target readers will know who Ekin Su is, recognise her photograph, understand why heels/thong, and possibly know about what she's said before about her weights regime

Theos · 03/04/2023 06:40

You don’t see anything wrong with hood housekeeping’s inane copy?
HOT CROSS FUN
CHOCCY EGGS

CountFoscosMice · 03/04/2023 07:26

I can't see heels? It's the back part of the machine she's on, that looks like a high heel - isn't she barefoot?
(Which is also very impractical Wink...)

CountFoscosMice · 03/04/2023 07:26

Or
Maybe it is actually a heel 🧐🧐

Catspyjamas17 · 03/04/2023 07:34

You know women's magazines are all complete bollocks trying to make us feel more insecure so they can sell us more beauty products? Oh and "wellness" products now. I worked this out when I was about 20, 27 years ago. Women's Health is no different. In fact I used to read Men's Health, at least it had pictures of hot men in it. Why anyone thinks we'd be interested in Ekin-Sue from a health and fitness perspective shows how bollocks it all is. She's not exactly a top sportswoman.

deydododatdodontdeydo · 04/04/2023 12:53

The only thing wrong with that cover is the heels.
It's a magazine about women's health and fitness. They've chosen an 80s style outfit for this one, but usually they feature women in sportswear - bra tops and shorts, etc.
Check the male version (Men's Health) and it's bare chests and (photoshopped) abs every month.
The Women's Health cover isn't to appeal to men, it's to appeal wo women, just as Men's Health is to appeal to men.

Bbq1 · 04/04/2023 13:05

I don't think any men are going into the newsagents to leer at the corner of a Womens Health!
I think the cover is meant to appeal to women. Don't know why because I can't bear ES plus I doubt her extremely thin body was obtained through a healthy lifestyle... However, ES has made a career out of not being very bright and posing with as little clothes on as possible. It was her choice to pose like that, she wasn't coerced. I very much doubt she cares whether she is objectified or not especially when cashing the money for the shoot. The people who are shocked and disgusted on her behalf really need to address ES and others like her. If they weren't willing to bare all, there wouldn't be any covers like the one in question

escapingthecity · 04/04/2023 13:21

Who is that?

CarpyDiem · 04/04/2023 14:48

I has a google for magazine covers of both Women's Health and Men's Health.

They invariably feature body shots of toned/ripped young people in workout gear, and it's usually the men who are wearing less clothes (topless in shorts being a popular choice)

Also the women are much more likely to be name-checked (and feature in an article) - usually not sports stars, more often someone in the public eye for some other reason, but talking about their workout regime and balance of life.

If you want to see athletes on the cover, you need to go to the magazines for particular sports (and the people are usually wearing more clothes, though you still get topless men)

BlackForestCake · 08/04/2023 22:46

Also the women are much more likely to be name-checked (and feature in an article)

Yes, men don't tend to be famous just for being fit. You almost never hear the names of famous male models.

BlackForestCake · 08/04/2023 22:47

There was Nick Kamen stripping off in the laundrette, but that was over 30 years ago, which kind of proves my point.

Morestrangerthings · 09/04/2023 01:31

Air brushing JL. No one looks like this at age 76. Not even gorgeous JL.

StepAwayFromTheBiscuitJar · 11/04/2023 20:22

Wow, I didn't even know there was a Women's Health magazine. Surely it's just the same as Men's Health, which has always had ludicrously attractive men with unattainable physiques.

Magazine cover straight out of the 70s. So depressing
StepAwayFromTheBiscuitJar · 11/04/2023 20:24

Men's Health has been around for decades. I used to have a cheeky perve at the covers when I was still at school! 😂

TheDogthatDug · 12/04/2023 04:49

They should put me on the front cover. No doubt I would look very alluring, purple and dripping with sweat in me sports bra and old baggy grey knickers.

Housewife2010 · 12/04/2023 05:44

FurAndFeathers · 02/04/2023 09:34

No one in the 90s wore high cut leotards and leg warmers - it was all sporty spice tracksuit pants and crop tops.

this is 80s titillation recreation

Show quote history

Don't you remember the secret photos of Diana working out in the gym in a thong leotard over cycling shorts? This was in the 90s.

Appalonia · 12/04/2023 06:10

Oh well, at least it wasn't Lia Thomas...

BeautifulWar · 12/04/2023 06:21

I've read this magazine before and don't recall a previous cover like this. I could be wrong, I've not read it in a while, nor read every edition.

Isn't it because it's the LI non entity on the cover? Appears they're having circulation issues and scraping the bottom of the barrel - absolute shite.

Isn't the JL cover popping up an ad and nothing to do with this post?

Fizbosshoes · 12/04/2023 06:23

Picoloangel · 02/04/2023 10:06

I stopped subscribing to WH it’s all just articles tied to celebrities! Ekin Su is a new low even for them. I have nothing against her but she’s a reality TV “star” and has nothing to do with fitness etc.

I used to love Zest back in the day and was hoping WH would be similar but it was awful. Full of celebs and articles about sex which wasn’t what I was buying it for!

I used to get zest magazine. Although I noticed that although the articles were about health and fitness, a lot of yhe ads were for diets and plastic surgery which for me seemed to go against the messages in the main part of the magazine!

I agree OP. I doubt anyone would actually exercise in this gear. What's wrong with putting a random woman from an actual RL spin class/gym/race on the front?

YukoandHiro · 12/04/2023 06:30

@Beautiful3 they do airbrush GQ magazine as well!!! Ridiculous to suggest that images you see if famous men in the media, particularly glossies, are totally representative of their actual looks!

Picoloangel · 12/04/2023 06:42

@Fizbosshoes i never noticed that but agree not on message!

Morestrangerthings · 12/04/2023 06:55

TheDogthatDug · 12/04/2023 04:49

They should put me on the front cover. No doubt I would look very alluring, purple and dripping with sweat in me sports bra and old baggy grey knickers.

Ha ha the dogthatdug. When I used to work out I was beetroot red faced, hair all sweaty and didn’t smile alluringly, rather I was grimacing with effort.