"Men's" Magazines v "Women's" Magazines

[tunaandcheesesandwich]

Some interesting tweets by Everyday Sexism on the placement of magazines in supermarkets. Eg. Computers, Sports etc in Men's Interest section, with the Women's Interest section just containing fashion and gossip magazines.

I just wondered how this affects women on a day to day basis. I do sometimes buy Heat, Gracia etc. But I also buy Private Eye Magazine, which is always in the Men's section, and also the National Geographic magazine. When I pick up the Private Eye it does make me feel like I must be unusual to be buying it, and not thought of as 'feminine'.

Film magazines are inexplicably aimed at men, like women never watch films. I used to read Total Film before it folded, and the ads at the back were always full of half-naked women and sex lines, like you'd expect from Loaded. Can't remember if Empire is as bad.

slightly off topic but quite a few years ago (er...20+) our corner shop started to sell newspapers and mags. I was quite pleased about this until I realised they were also stocking soft porn (Playboy etc- this was before the lads mags thing had really got going). I complained to the owner- I was a very regular customer and she told me they didn't have any choice- it was like they had a contract with the whole saler who had an 'all or nothing' rule about what they stocked.

To make it worse, none of my friends seemed to think it was a problem.

Ours is a big one too, I've just been again now. There is colour coding, the Lifestyle, Cooking, Craft were pink, the Hobbies, Sports were split between green and blue.

They have two sides of an island - women/children/craft/cooking types on ones side and men/hobbies/trainspotting etc on the other. Definitely no mention of men or women. Maybe some of them have updated their labels and others not got round to it yet.

I can't say I've noticed there is any distinction in men's interests and women's interests. Usually buy magazines in Waterstones or Waitrose

I haven't bought a "women's magazine " in decades as they were largely so silly.

Cats, music, and arts mags are neutral.

WH Smiths at Waterloo has travel, lifestyle and women's lifestyle. Actually, I didn't look too closely, on account of half of my head was shouting, "You're getting obsessive about this!" at me.

Let's be honest. In many households it's women who do the shopping, categorising magazines helps wifey grab something that will keep hubby happy. 'They didn't have Napoleons Russian Campaigns, but they did have Pennine Steam Train Monthly'.

My supermarket reorganised recently and the men's fitness and computer stuff ended up near the toilet entrance. Hilarious watching shy geeks trying to pluck up enough courage to browse.

As for topself porn, there does seem to be less.

I haven't noticed labels, but will check when I'm next in.

I do know though that my Tescos have three aisles, one with weeklies, knitting, crochet, style, home making, bridal etc, then the middle aisle full of children's and young teen mags, one side has power rangers, dr who with the other ends animals and you, Dora etc. TV mags in the middle of that aisle, then the third aisle has men's fitness, camping, car, computing, photography, science, shooting, fishing etc.

The small local newsagents here all have the soft porn on the tops shelves, I'm just wondering if there is actually less or if it seems there is less because more people now magazines in supermarkets?

I was just about to say "there was a thread about this a few months ago" when I realised it's the same one.