Why do some women apparently aspire to be glamour models? Is it because it seems to be a glamourous lifestyle? I'm sure they can find a more challenging job!

lads mags on the top shelf is the dumbest censorship move since the BBFC cracked down on movies in the 1970s and 80s.

IronicFilmReference-
why?

Why did you need to tell us your hair colour? Mine's brown. So what?

rithompson- i have no idea! the question is-how much true choice went into making that desicion? A good analogy I read is choosing either electric chair or hanging? Yep, you've made a choice but in what context?

The_Walrus- if you are young and female the expectations people form about you are based on what you look like. We are all guilty about pre-judging people on their face. My point is- I look a certain way, therefore the assumptions people have of me are-blonde=slutty, stupid etc etc.

My what a competitive lot. Aren't we all equal? Woman cracks shin on garage door 3 options: Laugh or rage at the sexism or yawn and change channel. I tend to laugh the same reaction to the male bufoons being instructed by clever women in other adverts. All this better than you stuff hopefully means we live in a fairly safe/secure world where we amuse ourseleves discussing old Dawin theories.

So crack on keeps me entertained.

Ize totaly respectz youz therez! Ize think that magazines should not tryz to stereotype women like! But if youz just take them awayz from da shelf then youz removing da choice, which is menna be what a democracy iz about like innit! They should have like a 2nd from top shelf for theze magz and then the top shelf for da porn like soz people know it is a bit different! To be Frank, wellz i ain't Frank Lampard but ize try my best, we should not just hid da mag and hope it goes away, we needz to properly address da issue like otherwize these mags and more will just keep coming back like! Maybez if men magz addressed certain issuez about women that men shouldz know and vice-versa then there wouldz be less problems like! I think women magz that tryz to get women to diet, look like a stick like should alsoz be looked at to tryz and stop women thinking theyz have to conform to a stick like and just be theirselves and happy like!

Ian-
not sure if its really a "better than you" competition. My point is that men and women SHOULD engage in debate, and that this attitude that if one make gains someone else will lose is nothing but damaging. Feminist explorations into popular culture DONT end with zoo, it is widely known that women's magazines are harmful to women but in the context of unequal power relations, especially sexual politics, lads mags are I think, much more damaging for heterosexual relations and gender equality.

I think it’s one of perspective – if a person is perceived by another to have gained, then they have lost. Nick picky I know, It’s like everything in life there has to be a balance – traditional roles are being broken down at a pace that seems ever faster – for a group that see’s it’s “power” being eroded it is scary. Debate, I agree, is the only way to resolve these issues, also recognition of the fundamental differences between men and women. When I was growing up, a long time ago, I had to do my chores, washing, ironing etc to me it is normal that everything is shared my wife cooks a mean barbecue, I iron a mean shirt. So I have difficulty in understanding why people get riled about the sexes. Amazing how a simple thing such as where a magazine is placed can evolve into a general debate of the sexes, unfortunately as I don’t read Zoo etc and it is a long time since I last looked at Mayfair et al I am unable to comment directly on their content. Sorry for waffling – think I might set my own blog up!!

ian,
whilst the battle for housework is over for some individuals,feminism looks at women as a group. That means that yes, yours and my relationships may be equal in terms of distribution of housework etc, but that doesn't mean that just because you don't experience it, it's not there. Without going into the theoretical underpinnings of feminism, I beleive that women as A GROUP are oppressed by the patriachal society we live in. Flashing, rapes, sexual harassment, domestic abuse, sexuality as being a male hetreo activity and all the times I've had my arsed pinched, called a slut or had a boss leer at me are daily occurances for many many women. That is not to say that the perpetrators are ALL men, rather than there is a structure of society that allows and actively encourages this sort of behaviour.
I am also fully aware that many men will say "well, I've had my arse pinched, but I don't get political". One man may have that whereas thousands of women will.Why is this? Why are women's bodies up for public approval? Who owns them? Feminism is NOT anti-men, I can't stress that enough and for me, it is about addressing the fact that most rapes are committed by someone you know, women earn 70p to a mans pound and EVERY woman I know has experienced inappropriate behaviour from men around them, from bosses to co-workers to friends. Feminism attempts to find out why. Mainstream mags are a reflection of what is accepted in society-biggest selling paper contains a naked girl, girls magazines have to adhere to strict code of sexual content. Boys mags don't. why?

I’m glad it’s not anti-men. I believe in equality – absolutely right that a woman doing the same job as me gets paid the same, or more if better at negotiating their own pay deal. Changing deep-seated attitudes is not an overnight task, censoring of information just causes people to look harder. Look at the internet – this very blog site has content I wouldn’t want a child to read, but it can’t be moved higher up. If a code of conduct exists it should be non-discriminatory if not it should be challenged in the courts. I don’t think making these mags discuss deeper issues will help one bit – the mind set is there already, that is why lads go out and buy these things – making them feel like dirty old men when they buy one just makes the apple a little shinier. I would suggest that changes start a lot earlier – as I implied before – in the home where parents teach their children respect for themselves and the wider society – above all for themselves. Sorry – nearly got the soap box out – I agree with your drive for equality just disagree on how it might be achieved.

Ian-
I agree with you that it starts with childhood. My last comment on this would be that if you don't challenge parent’s perceptions and world views the cycle is simply continued. There's an interesting discussion on lap dancing and young men, which I think draws on similar ideas here:-http://witchy-woo.blogspot.com/ (under "I've just formulated a theory") I think with FHM et al, it destigmatises what is essentially porn and allows the Madonna/whore dichotomy to continue and as above post suggests-allows young men to separate women they know from women that model. The consequences of this are engrained in our society-low rape prosecutions, high levels of sexual harassment etc. It also silences women as it takes away their ability to name what they may see as offensive, as it is so mainstream- porn is the norm.