[lunargirl]

For parents (or future parents) of tweens and teenage girls. What are your views on magazines such as Dolly, Girlfriend, Cleo, Cosmo etc.? Would you buy them? Let your daughters buy them? Ban them? Any age limits? Do you see them as educational, entertainment, harmful? Tell me your thoughts!

[Guest_Cathode_*]

Dolly taught me a lot when I was a teen

I'd probably let my daughter read them. When she is a teen.

This post has been edited by Cathode: 21/02/2012, 09:04 PM

[kriattica]

Lol Cathode it was Girlfriend for me.

I have no issues with them when my girls are around 13ish. Glad that we are only into Little Angel at the moment though.

[SCARFACE CLAW]

I'd let my daughter read Dolly and / or Girlfriend when she is a teen. They are pretty great with answering questions girls might be too embarrassed to ask their parents, and they promote things like safe sex etc.

[~Supernova~]

I read Dolly and Girlfriend from around 11, Cleo and Cosmo from around 14. As per pp they certainly taught me a lot I don't think I'd have a problem with DD reading them at similar ages if she expressed interest in them. She already enjoys Total Girl magazine.

[andieinvic]

My dd's love the tween mags such as Total Girl etc and I buy them occasionally. I think Dolly is probably ok for the entering teen age group 13 and older - don't have too much of a problem with it. Cleo etc I wouldn't buy for my daughters, but if they had a job and were happy to spend their dosh on them I wouldn't ban it from the house. I'd hope Cleo, Cosmo etc were more for the 18 + age group, but I guess that's unlikely.


I remember loving the American magazines when I was a teenager, spent hours with my best friend going through seventeen magazines from the library which were quite age appropriate.

[Ianthe]

I think these magazines can be incredibly destructive to self esteem. I know for me they were. I would prefer my daughter doesn't read them. I think it is hard enough for women to filter out those messages, I don't want my vulnerable teen being exposed to it more than is necessary.

[Saecularis Angel...]

With the disclaimer that this is FAR in my future...

I think they're probably mostly harmless, but also mostly worthless. I don't buy such things for myself (never have) and can't see myself buying them for DD. If she earns her own money and chooses to spend it on magazines I can't see myself banning them, though.

I might keep an eye on the content to see whether there are topics on which I feel I ought to offer some balance or perspective.

ETA: Ianthe, could you say more about your point on self esteem? Is it just about body image?

This post has been edited by Ange Vert: 21/02/2012, 09:17 PM

[Genabee]

I read Dolly and Girlfriend from around 11, Cleo and Cosmo from around 14. As per pp they certainly taught me a lot I don't think I'd have a problem with DD reading them at similar ages if she expressed interest in them. She already enjoys Total Girl magazine.

Exactly the same here...

The way I see it, if girls are menstruating at 10, 11, 12 etc. then I only think it is fair that they can have access to information about it all - even the stuff like sex, that parents secretly fear. The reality is that they are going to come across it, whether we like it or not. I would much rather have the lines of communication open about it all, than pretend its not going to happen. How harmful can the magazines be? They are full of tampon and perfume ads anyway!

That being said, I wouldn't buy them for her. She can buy them herself!!

[ampersand]

Most teens I know are much more likely to be online than read a mag. I would be fine with dd reading them when she's a bit older but I'd be surprised if she asked for them, it's not the thing it was for earlier generations.