Magazines analysis

Show and analyse how women are represented in a range of magazines.  What can we learn about how this representation changes according to the age of the target audience?

In this essay, I am going to analyse how girls and women are represented in a range of magazines.  Depending on the target audience, the contents of the magazine differs.  This essay will look and describe the differences between the magazines and why they are there.  The age groups and magazines I will be examining are; teenage with the magazine ‘Sneak,’ twenty something's with the magazine ‘Glamour,’ and middle aged with the magazine ‘Women’s Own.’  I will give a general overview of each target audience and what is represented.

I will begin with ‘Sneak’ and the target audience of teenagers.  Although aimed at teenagers, many eight and nine year olds read it as it makes them feel older.  It focuses mainly upon young music-related celebrities.  On the attached cover, (see figure 1,) it has a picture of Britney and Usher.  Britney is the ideological women, and this passes subliminal messages to the reader that they must aspire to a size 10 female who always wears make-up.  This could be very dangerous, as young girls could feel they have to conform to an ‘hourglass’ body shape which could lead to anorexia or bulimia.  Usher is many female teenagers fantasy.  This could make girls think that if men aren’t a replica of Usher then they aren’t good enough.  Teenage magazines also include; style and fashion tips, celebrity gossip, real life stories, dating problems, boy pin-ups, quizzes, beauty care adverts and star signs.  Many teenagers feel pressured into keeping up with the latest fashion ideas and season colours, but this can be very expensive.  This can cause problems between family members if parents do not have enough money to keep buying fashionable clothes and make-up.

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‘Glamour’ is aimed mainly at late teens to late twenties.  When flicking through the magazine, I noticed that there was more text and adverts.  This reflects how the age-group has more time and disposable income.  Also, ‘Glamour’ was the most expensive magazine, being £1.90 and included a website, (see figure 2,) which again indicates a higher disposable income and extra time.  The front cover yet again includes an hourglass shaped celebrity, but she is older, although she still conforms to the dominant ideology for a young female.  The magazine includes the latest fashion and make-up styles, but on a ...

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