Sunday, October 21, 2012

A Whole New Seventeen


I remember the first time I saw a Seventeen magazine:  my aunt (who was only five years older than me) bought one at the drugstore in my small western hometown.  I was amazed she was able to do so because she wasn't seventeen years old yet!  This was sometime around 1972.  Soon I was buying my own copies and subscribing to the magazine.  I remember reading about fashion, new products and how to treat friends.  I loved the bright photos and the chance to see how other teens were living "out in the real world."  And then, when I got older and went to college, I switched over to Cosmo and Glamour, leaving Seventeen behind.

Welcome to 2012.  My step-daughter, who is 15 years old, left a copy of the latest issue on our couch so the other night I flipped through the pages.  Yes, there is still plenty of fashion ("Clothes That Love Your Body") and articles about beauty ("Perfect Makeup Every Day") but this magazine has kept up with the times more than I have.  There is an article about how to quit smoking and another titled "Is My Vagina Normal?"  There is a piece, "The Secrets of Super-Happy Couples" that features a lesbian couple.  I don't remember any content this diverse 35 years ago but maybe my memory is not as sharp as it used to be.  However, I am glad that it seems to be a source of information that is factual, socially responsible, and inclusive for young women of today.

It was quite the experience to relive part of my past and step into the life of a teenager today through the current Seventeen magazine.  I wonder if I would even recognize Cosmo these days?!  I'll save that for another, far in the future, day.

1 comment:

  1. I love this post. It brings back such memories of those late teen years.
    Rinda

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