I recently received my monthly copy of Runner’s World, to which I’ve subscribed for years. This month they had an article about training for a half marathon that featured five real-life runners. For each runner, the article listed their name, age, occupation, running goal, and…the number of children they each had.
What? What does the number of children have to do with how fast they run? I scanned the article again looking for my answer, and found it: Nothing! It was completely irrelevant. What’s more, when I looked at each runner, trying to find the one who was most like me, I saw that they ALL had children?
I tried to figure out what message the author was sending, intentionally or otherwise. That childless people have nothing but free time to train? That childless people don’t run? That only people with children read the magazine? It made no sense.
Then my friend mentioned that she has recently cancelled her longtime subscription to a popular women’s magazine because the articles were all mommy-focused, even though the magazine touts itself as “the total-life guide for every woman.” What a shame that’s every woman but the childless.
Is there anywhere for us to turn? Do you have a favorite magazine that’s geared to women and not just women with children? Let us know.
And attention magazine editors! There is a big audience out here looking for a voice. I’m just saying…
I rarely look at women magazines anymore. Their voice is almost completely foreign to me – why? They have one type of women they cater too and I finally – after allowing my subscriptions to lapse and letting unread magazines pile up – I am not that woman. I used to think I was in the minority, but I don’t think so anymore. I think all media (print/televison, etc) are missing an important demographic – us!
I totally agree. I always hold my breath and try not to look too hard as I flip past the “Best beach vacations for families” “Child-proof decorating” etc. articles. I find myself identifying with the only couples often without children in those magazines: gay men. 😉
I quit reading magazines quite a while ago, except the occasional impulse buy at the checkout line (usually due to a magazine with “clutter” or “organization” in the title).
For a number of reasons, childlessness being only one of them, current magazines do not fit my lifestyle, so i don’t buy them any more.
I would LOVE a magazine that focused on non-moms! It seems every woman’s magazine out there is either focused on mothers or women trying to land a man. Neither apply to me.
Even Time magazine seems to be heavy on the parenting-mommy topics. I would love a to find a magazine that has more balance. Oprah’s O magazine comes close, and since she’s one of our most visible child-free celebrities, I’d love to see her (and her producers and editors) shine a positive spotlight on our demographic. (And guess what, advertisers, we’ve got money to spend too.)