The representation of men and women in consumer magazines focusing on ‘men’s health’ and ‘health and fitness’:

Both of these magazines share similarities and differences which are not always picked up by the target reader. Aspects of each of the magazines such as the front cover and content of advertisements aim to appeal to their target market, and therefore they differ as each magazine is targeting a different gender, which have very different ideas of what and who they want to read about.

The front cover of both magazines share numerous explanation marks within the subtitles. This is to highlight the emphasis on certain articles within the magazines and grab the attention of shoppers. Both magazines also contain bright, colourful writing, drawing the shopper in to find interest in the magazine. The women’s magazine appears to seem more inspiring and relaxed, whereas the men’s health magazine seems more intense and powerful. The significance of the bold red and black writing, as well as the majority of upper case lettering shows they are putting a statement to the reader which is bold shows a masculine sense of authority. This is in contrast to the women’s magazine which has mainly lower case lettering with regards to the subtitles which gives off a slightly more laid back, easy going vibe.

The types of advertisements within both of these magazines vary greatly. While men’s health has the majority filled with watches and various new technology gadgets, ‘health and fitness’ mainly consists of clothing and ways of altering or improving a female’s appearance. I feel this highlights the magazines similar stereo type readers, while the men reading ‘men’s health’ have priorities in looking expensive and desirable to women, women reading ‘health and fitness’ have almost exactly the same aims in trying to attract men (by working out, eating well etc).

Similarly, there are many articles in both magazines about improving or altering the male/female face, as well as body. By flicking through the pages, i can see the percentage of these types of articles must be at around 80%, and this shows how the self obsessed the men’s health/health and fitness magazine editors perceive the readers to be. Whether the consumers live up to this image-obsessed stereo type is controversial, as there are a wide range of people who by these magazines, for different reasons. However it is obvious that the type of person the magazine makers are targeting (and have in mind to sell to) are certainly this shallow.