October Essence

[BlueReign]

From a magazine I grew up with but hardly read now, the cover caught my eye so I decided to buy it "Why he won't marry you."

I read the article called "catch him if you can" and was offended by this statement in the middle of the page:

"A new generation of successful postintegration women now believe that remaining single may be their pitiful fate."

Now what is so pitiful about remaining single...?????????????

I liked some parts of the article and feel that it was well written and I appreciated 2 of the brothers comments BUT

it lacked the flip side because I am single and comfortable about it, not feeling sad or pitiful.

and their are a lot of single men that I have met who have not met someone they want to spend the rest of their lives with. Believe me, they are not scarce!!

[sigmadiva]

I have not read the article yet, but from what you have posted I would agree with you. I think now, more than ever, women have a lot more life choices. We don't have to be married to have a credit card, bank account and money like it was before the Feminist Revolution. I think that what is happening is that a shift is occuring in what people perceive as traditional roles for men and women. I think that since women have become very successful in the job market, then we are not as dependent on men as before. That is not to say that we don't want to get married, but our success in life is no longer solely (?sp) dependent on a man.

Also, I'd much rather be single and happy than married and miserable. Now, don't get me wrong, I do want to marry, but I don't want to rush into it with the wrong man just to say that I am married and end up on 'Divorce Court'.

btw, I kinda stopped reading Essence too. I still keep my subscription though.

[TRSimon]

I am not single, but I really did not like the "man-hungry" insinuations of the article title.

I have seen happy single people and miserable married people and vice versa. I am seriously considering not renewing my subscription when the time comes this winter. Time-Warner is trying to turn it into black cosmo when it was so much more.

Oh well...

[bluethunder]

sorors,
i think that women are indirectly(or maybe even directly!) socialized to think that something is wrong with them in some way if they do not have a man and if they opt to prolong their singlehood. but this idea carries over into other everyday scenarios: if you go out to eat by yourself as a woman or if you go to the movies by yourself as a woman, for examples, people will more than likely raise an eyebrow. why? because we are socialized to think that women cannot or should not go it alone in any thing... i just resent the implication that we are all in the pursuit of a man... as if that is the highest aspiration in life.
but there are A LOT of wonderful, intelligent, attractive sisters who really are genuinely having a rough time finding a brother to settle down with... but i wouldn't call that situation "pitiful"

[BlueReign]

For you Glamour Poodle, and other Essence Readers, particularly my Sorors in the DC area.

[Sistermadly]

Originally posted by BlueReign

"A new generation of successful postintegration women now believe that remaining single may be their pitiful fate."

And this is the main reason I stopped reading women's magazines. Granted, I'm married now, but even so, I still hate how in this day and age people still try to put the idea in women's heads that they're somehow incomplete or defective if they don't have a man in their lives.

[ladylike]

In terms of offering quality, well thought out articles addressing relationships, Essence has been on the downward slope and this was way before the complete Time Warner buy-out.

I wonder if some of it could be attributed to it's leadership and how many women have been at the helm ever since Susan Taylor stepped down as editor-in-chief (one woman served for less than a year!)?

It is disheartening to see articles month after month dedicated to how women can catch and keep a man or conveying an underlying message that something is wrong if your are single.

I would love to see Essence focus on lasting healthy and loving relationships.

How come we don't see articles dedicated to sistas in their 50s, 60s and 70s who are in/not in relationships (the wisdom of elders is extremely important)? Their needs should be addressed, too.

[TRSimon]

Originally posted by ladylike
In terms of offering quality, well thought out articles addressing relationships, Essence has been on the downward slope and this was way before the complete Time Warner buy-out.

I wonder if some of it could be attributed to it's leadership and how many women have been at the helm ever since Susan Taylor stepped down as editor-in-chief (one woman served for less than a year!)?

It is disheartening to see articles month after month dedicated to how women can catch and keep a man or conveying an underlying message that something is wrong if your are single.

I would love to see Essence focus on lasting healthy and loving relationships.

How come we don't see articles dedicated to sistas in their 50s, 60s and 70s who are in/not in relationships (the wisdom of elders is extremely important)? Their needs should be addressed, too.

Well, there has been a revolving door where the editor in chief has been concerned (I know for a minute there, it was like, dang, ANOTHER editor in chief) and it has definitely had an effect on the publication. Essence could benefit from the insight of older women.

[TheEpitome1920]

Who is on the cover??

Sometimes I feel like Essence recycles articles.

[Glamour Poodle]

Originally posted by BlueReign
For you Glamour Poodle, and other Essence Readers, particularly my Sorors in the DC area.

Thanks Soror BlueReign!

[Gina1201]

Originally posted by TheEpitome1920
Who is on the cover??

Sometimes I feel like Essence recycles articles.

The current cover is with Beyonce.

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by ladylike
In terms of offering quality, well thought out articles addressing relationships, Essence has been on the downward slope and this was way before the complete Time Warner buy-out.

I wonder if some of it could be attributed to it's leadership and how many women have been at the helm ever since Susan Taylor stepped down as editor-in-chief (one woman served for less than a year!)?

It is disheartening to see articles month after month dedicated to how women can catch and keep a man or conveying an underlying message that something is wrong if your are single.

I would love to see Essence focus on lasting healthy and loving relationships.

How come we don't see articles dedicated to sistas in their 50s, 60s and 70s who are in/not in relationships (the wisdom of elders is extremely important)? Their needs should be addressed, too.

To the last point, I don't think we see enough of such articles because of the underlying capitalism. There's a thought out here that says that people in those age groups don't have disposable income and aren't attractive to advertisers. *le sigh*

[sigmadiva]

Originally posted by TheEpitome1920


Sometimes I feel like Essence recycles articles.

Me too. But, I think many of the major women's magazines do. A couple of years ago I was throwing out some old Mademoiselles (?sp) that piled up and I noticed that for about everyother issue, it talked about the best mascara / lipstick / foundation, dating tips, the major health concern of the month and fashion tips.

I think so many of these magazines have a formula and just plug whatever is the latest trend in the formula. If rose colored lipstick, L'Oreal mascara and pelvic inflammatory disease is 'hot' this month, then for next month it will be purple lipstick, Cover Girl mascara and uterine cancer. That is why I stopped buying Mademoiselle, Vogue, Cosmopolitian and Harper's Bazaar. They just recycle stuff. Like I said before, I only keep my subscription to Essence 'out of duty'. I really don't read it much anymore.

Not to change the subject, but I really liked the original 'Honey'.

[Lady of Pearl]

I miss Suede and where is Honey? I haven't seen it on the newstands lately. I pick up Essence every now and then.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally posted by Lady of Pearl
I miss Suede and where is Honey? I haven't seen it on the newstands lately. I pick up Essence every now and then.

Suede was put on hold. There was a post about it but I can't find it. Not sure what happened to Honey. I never read that one but I found this thread.

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...honey+magazine