I love More magazine, and I love More.com, their online version. They’ve been nice enough to publish several of my articles, including my favorite, Technology for Mummies. However, I have a bone to pick with the nice peeps at More: why the obsession with everything younger? Here are some recent headlines:
All-New! Is Your Closet Too Old?
Look Who’s Made Our 10 Sexiest Stars List Now
84 Don’t-Miss Hair Styling Tips, Tricks & Products
101 Ways to Fight Belly Fat
Let me ask you this: if you read the above headlines, how would you know you weren’t reading Glamour or Cosmo? The original mission of the magazine was to appeal to mature women, let’s say right around middle-age and better, but lately it seems we’re drifting more toward the younger market. I know that More asks readers all the time for input, so I should be talking with them, right? And I will, right after this. But for now, here’s my request: can you please help us feel satisfied if we’re 56 and look it (like me)? Sure, I wish I didn’t have impending TurkeyNeck, but I’d rather read an uplifting article about kicking butt in middle age than finding a sexy high-collared shirt or the right plastic surgery to help me look younger. What do you think?
Yes! This has been bugging me ever since I was *part* of the younger market, this fascination with defining ourselves with a very narrow definition of sexiness/beauty, e.g., having flatter abs, perkier boobs, cellulite-free thighs and hair color that has nothing to do with what’s a natural part of my DNA. Every time I looked at a so-called women’s magazine, I found 84 new ways to feel inadequate and 101 things I should be doing about it.
My solution: subscribe instead to Men’s Health magazine. Their slogan is “Tons of useful stuff,” which I found to be very true — lots of information on health and nutrition, inspiring profiles of leaders in a wide range of professions and fascinating insight into the male psyche. And nice eye candy 🙂
But I agree, Lynne and Debbie. Give me some role models whose history and aspirations look a little more like mine, and I’m there.
Sarah, that’s interesting you’d mention Men’s Health. I haven’t read it a whole lot but it’s always informative and useful without all the “you are inadequate” subtext. Motivating thru fear pisses me off, no matter who tries to do it! I love feeling motivated by promise (of good health, joy, success, etc.) and absolutely resist being manipulated by fear. When I was about 40 and twice-divorced, God sent me a car dealer to fall in love with. Bill has taught me the things people do to sell you their product, and fear is a BIG seller. So now I’m so much smarter!
Lynne: You are SO RIGHT!! Those past 40 are crying for helpful role-models to walk with us through “middle age.” The “young-uns” have the benefit of good skin and gravity already — let ’em eat cake (while they can!)