Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Glamour. Cosmo. SELF. Ladies Home Journal. Vogue. In an industry that has been in a downward spiral for years, these magazinesand other womenfocused magazines like themhave not only retained their readership, theyve increased it. Every month, five million-plus women peel back the slick cover of their favorite magazine to thumb through pages filled with tidings and advice about fashion, beauty, sex, relationships, dieting, health, and lifestyle. But do womens magazines offer valuable information, or do they merely peddle fluff and fantasyand in either case, do women take their messages to heart?
In Airbrushed Nation, Jennifer Nelsona longtime industry insiderexposes the naked truth behind the glossy pages of womens magazines, both good and bad. Nelson delves deep into the world of glossies, explaining the ways in which these magazines have been positive for women, highlighting the ways in which their agendas have been misguided, and asking the questions that have long gone unasked: What do women think and believe about the retouched photos, the ubiquitous sex advice, the constant offensive on aging, and the fantasy fashion spreads featuring unaffordable clothing and accessories? Do the unrealistic ads, images, and ideals that permeate glossies damage womens self-esteem . . . and is it intentional?
About the Author
Jennifer Nelson has been writing for women's magazines for nearly fifteen years. She's written hundreds of articles on health, wellness, relationships, pop culture, pets, and travel for practically every chick slick on the stands, including
Womans Day, Ladies Home Journal, Family Circle, Cosmo, O, The Oprah Magazine, Glamour, Womens Health, Fitness, and
Self. When she's not writing for women, she contributes to
The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, Readers Digest, Parade, USA Weekend, Prevention, Parents, Parenting, AARP, WebMD, and MSNBC.
Nelson teaches Stiletto Boot Camp, a course on womens magazine writing, at Mediabistro.com. She also speaks about and offers workshops on womens magazine writing at writing conferences around the country. She is a bona fide womens glossy magazine junkie.