My local Tesco's separate their magazines into 'Women's interests' and 'Men's interests'. Presumably just in case my ovaries don't automatically direct me on a nuclear mission trackpath to choose cupcakes and TOWIE and I accidentally buy something I couldn't possibly be interested in - like Private Eye or The Economist, or The Spectator. I don't think (or I really really don't like to think) that Tesco organises its magazines on the basis that women aren't interested in politics, the economy or current events, and that it's some sort of patriarchal-oppression drive by one of the biggest supermarkets in Britain. I don't think that, and I don't WANT to think that. But routinely, for several months, this particular Tesco has sorted its magazines by placing those magazines, and others, into 'Men's interests'. It's the ignorance that I find most depressing, apparently no one has had a brainwave that a woman might be interested in wider affairs.
My tits do not prevent me from wanting to read about current affairs, in fact, the mere presence of them encourages my interest in politics - women are routinely underpaid, underrepresented and unfairly treated in businesses and wider society. A YouGov survey has just released figures showing that just over 40% of young women in London have experienced sexual harassment in public spaces over the last year. I have a vested interest in current affairs, and the fact that Tesco designates them as anything else than 'General interests' is utter bollocks. I try not to get too sweary in my writing but things like this, that can be easily ignored and overlooked, cause me to put on my biggest Doc Martens and start getting sweary with even the smallest and sweetest old lady.
The majority of women's magazines make me feel like I'm not conforming to society's unobtainable ideals of femininity. I don't care about who shaves or doesn't shave their armpits and I subscribe to the Caitlin Moran school of thinking - that I will only wear high heels that allow me to dance to Lady Gaga and run away from murderers. The most frustrating aspect is that a generation of children are walking through these shops, seeing that these magazines are for men, and this affecting their attitudes of acceptable reading material for men and women. My XX chromosomes only serve to make me brilliantly awesome, and in no way do they define my reading interests. Sort it out Tesco.
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The labels are there to separate the magazines by key demographic. It's not sexist, it's just marketing (albeit slightly outdated marketing). It is nothing to do with the supermarkets, but the magazine publishers.
Well done Rosie for highlighting this issue.
What I find most confusing about these articles is that they all bring up very serious issues about women in the workplace, such as lower pay and sexual harassment. To me, these are important issues that need to be addressed and personal I find it disgusting that things like this still happen frequently. These issues effect both personal and professional lives. A label on a magazine rack however, does not. Why not focus all this passion on a worthwhile cause instead of attacking supermarkets about something you could just ignore.
Yes, women enjoy science, music, gaming and politics and may want to pick up magazines about these topics, the same way men may want to pick up material about celebrity gossip and cooking from the 'Women's Section'. Just pick up your magazine and get on with your day.
What I find most interesting about these articles however is the mention of some genuine issues about women being paid less and being harassed in the work place. I am all for equality and find it disgusting things like this still occur. To me, as a young male, those are serious issues that need to be addressed. They affect lives, both personal and professional. A magazine placed under a certain label however, really doesn't. Why not focus efforts on those causes instead of attacking supermarkets over a label that you could just ignore. Yes women can be interested in politics, science, gaming and music, the same as a guy can be interested in celebrity gossip and cooking. Just pick up your magazine and get on with your day.
I used to work in the shop, and I was particularly concerned by the children's magazines. Titles tend to be 'coded' pink or blue so you can quickly tell which will be appropriate for your child. The free gifts vary vastly between 'girls' and 'boys' magazines, too. The 'pink' magazines offer lipsticks, bracelets, hair accessories; the 'blue' give things like toy mobile phones or water pistols. Even before they really realise it, children are being taught that their gender dictates the sorts of things they should be interested in.