Aro you old onough to road this artielo ?Rocontly, soveral Consorvativo and Labour MPs supportad a Poriodicals (Protection of Childron Bill) proposed by Peter Luff, Tory MP for Worcester to protoct girls and young women from all thoso droadful articles about sex. Ago limits on magazines, as thero aro for films, wore suggested. So what's so frightening about young women's magazines that we need to bo protected from their effect? Elkie Dee looked at a few.
Sugar Horrible name for a girls' mag. An article on "Sex Myths You Should Never Believe" empha. sises that girls shouldn't have sex until they're ready, and stresses the value of trust, respect and love (yawn). Steamy packaging, disappointing content.
Just 17 The problem pages carry a warning: "Re member. to be sussed is a must but sex under 16 Is Illegal" and this shows the confusion of these magazines. The law that says a 15 year old woman is incapable of making her own decisions about sex Is accepted here without question. Sex is the central issue but they can't really be too explicit.
There Is a discussion of whether Gemma (16) should sleep with her boyfriend, under pressure from him to say yes. The magazine speaks to Gemma, boyfriend Darren, best friend Katle and mum. Gemma doesn't want to. Fine. But sometimes girls are the ones who want to try having of passive woman, demanding man. woman is more assertive. have sex? other consumer goods. what politiclans are afrald of. sex. Why does this mag stick to the stereotype Girl Talk I found this one really scary! Almed at 8 year-olds, this Is clearly meant to brainwash Its readers Into being nice little girls. Absolutely no sex, lots of cute little animals - Luff would love It! 19 Cover headlines contrast "Willles, weirdos and me: girls In the sex industry" with "Why I gave up boys for God: a young nun's story". 19 Is still obsessed with boys but at least they acknowledge that young women have sex for fun, not Just to please boys or because they're in "lurve".
More! Is unashamedly tacky. Sex is the central Issue, a key selling point, no doubt. Regular features are "Sex Talk", "Position of the Fortnight" and "Horny Horoscopes". Doesn't bother with too many of the niceties of the other magazines. Sex for fun is OK although heterosexual monogamy Is still presented as an Ideal. But at least the More!
More! and 19 are the best of these magazines, clearly almed at older readers than the others. But Isn't it better a young woman, even a very young woman, having sex or thinking about it, reads these and gets useful Information about using contraceptlon and having a good time, than that she worries about the right age or time to A feminist crlticism of women's magazines for younger and older readers is that they encourage women to think of themselves solely in relation to boys/men, and that they are filled with advertising and pictures to sell make-up, clothes and All this is true. At least the coverage of sex, though, does something to prepare women for real life and maybe to question it. Perhaps this is Liberation! is unique! Young people don't have much power in the world - so we need to organise to get our ideas around.
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