During the second Community Living Camp of Govt. College of Teacher Education, Calicut , held at Tirur, I was assigned the charge of providing audio and video support for the entire camp. This gave me the opportunity to be a non-participant observer. Save two sessions - the one which discussed Women"s Magazines and the other one - the screening of an award winning film, all the other sessions miserably failed to come up to the expectation of the participants.
Given below are the findings of various groups who critically analyzed a few Women"s Magazines which included Grihalakshmi, Mahilaratnam and Vanitha.
• The magazines to an extent shape the public opinion.
• Some include articles that help women assume their rightful social role.
• The cover page of most magazines extols feminine beauty.
• Stories in most magazines are built around affluent middle class families and very rarely that of the downtrodden or lower rungs of society.
• Glamorous life styles are a permanent feature in all magazines and they also tend to uphold consumerist values.
• Glossy advertisements in multi-coloured designs give the impression of a pronounced favour of the editors for luxurious living. Interestingly one magazine which has 90 pages set aside 56 pages for advertisements!
• Most articles were shallow and had sensual leanings. Many participants felt that it was a ploy to attract male readers.
• Almost all felt that the magazines cater to the rich and happy and not the marginalized sections of the community .