Where's the Girl Power in Girl Magazines?
by Joanne Spataro
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The contemporary girl-driven publications are extremely popular, displayed on newsstands just about everywhere. These advertisment-bloated magazines devote so much paper to the most unimportant topics. They speak for the "average" female adolescent; what she thinks about, what she cares about, and how she handles certain situations. But the magazines' description of the young woman is shameful. They water down her thoughts into shallow paragraphs; her questions and notions are not taken seriously. These changes with her mind and body are very important, though.

I had never read a teenage magazine,
until my curiosity got the better of me.
I bought Teen, from my local grocery newsstand; a periodical aimed at 12-19 year-olds. I grew excited, realizing that this was my first real "teen mag".

I quickly finished unloading the groceries at home, and plopped myself on the living room couch. I felt the shiny paper beneath my fingers as the colorful pages jumped at me. But what was written on the page suddenly disturbed me. The colors were positive, but the articles were far from enlightening. I could see how these topics could make girls go insane with self-worthlessness.

Most adolescent-related publications (including Teen magazine) portray girls as needy, boy-clutching young women. They turn the boyfriend/girlfriend relationship into something of a reflex, like jerking your knee. It's one of the most difficult and confusing relationships we, as women, will encounter. But the magazine doesn't seem to notice this fact.

They tell girls to make their boyfriends, and dating, the center of their universes. Girls are supposedly more worthwhile and complete with a boyfriend on their arms. They are also expected to constantly be thinking about the opposite sex. But what if we aren't ready to date by the time we're young teenagers?

So, magazines offer numerous, useless tips on how to ask the boy out, and keeping him. But the periodicals are putting words into the girl's mouth, making her appear witty and beautiful. Sadly, girls sacrifice their own personalities to catch a boy. This a very wrong message for girls; to be something they're not. If he doesn't like you for you, what's the point?

Magazines extensively discuss the trendy fashions and physical appearances of young females. They have many pictures of thin models, that girls think are something to strive for. This influences girls' eating habits, thinking the too-thin models are the norm. These wasted women are actually having serious health problems, such as anorexia or bulimia. Girls don't realize this, and blindly start down the road to a life-threatening illness.

Teenage publications applaud girls
who pick at their food, or pass on meals, eating junk food instead. But food is very important in the life of the teenager; our bones, muscles, and everything are still developing. We need those nutrients, and energy. The normal eating habits, consisting of the basic four food groups, they consider overeating.

Any information involving our careers seem meaningless, since magazines bypass this consequential topic. The periodicals teach us that our careers are nothing to worry about; it's so far away it's not worth fretting over. What's important is the right color lipstick and how to kiss really good . Here's a newsflash to those editors; college is only years away for a teenager. It's crucial to start early, so she's not left behind; the world won't wait for her. We will be long broken up with our boyfriends, and trends will be long dead when the real world knocks on our doors.

So, if these magazines or parents can't answer girls' questions, where do they go? What about answers to our other pressing questions, like information on female health, real dating advice, and more?

is a new, diverse on-line magazine for pre-teens and teens.

I've created a place that takes girls seriously, with teen health, new fashion tips, movie reviews, a column devoted to answering your questions, and fictional stories every week. We're going to treat girls with respect, that they do have brains and their feelings are real. What a breath of Fresh Air!

Homeschool Teen on the National Scene
How I became a part of "Seventeen" Magazine
by Joanne Spataro, creator of FreshAir TeenZine
& Member of the Teen Advisory Board of Seventeen Magazine
I was so excited when the mail came. I started flipping frantically through the newest issue of Seventeen magazine. I found the wonderful spread on the new Teen Advisory Board members. I was one of them, with my picture on the glossy pages. I was chosen for this prestigious position from hundreds of other applicants. My months of hard work and persistence had paid off! Do you have a dream to share? Do you think you can make a difference? Find out more on how I did it and how you can too!!

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