"Real women have curves", says Vogue (Shaping a Decade: Ten Years of Vogue Shape Issue Covers, 2012). The conclusion I have come to is - if you don't have curves, you're not a real woman? What if your curves are not the same as Beyonce's but they are curves? Are you still a real woman? I guess what Vogue is trying to say is - look at Beyonce, she's black and she's got curves - which is highly stereotypical for African-American women (Wade, 2009). Hence the accusation of racism. Nonetheless, Vogue also makes sure it attracts non-curvy audience by giving a series of advice. The message is the following: if you don't have curves, Vogue will tell you how to achieve a sexier silhouette - either by working out or a diet. Just in case neither of these two works, don't forget that plastic surgery can always make you more beautiful! Sadly, these are all headlines from this Vogue's edition cover page. Why is this a problem, you ask? For it objectifies women by telling them that all they need to do is look good. No need for them to worry about economy, war in Syria or climate change. They should only look great for their men who are too busy caring about all those things just mentioned. Smells like another failure for Vogue, and another challenge for feminism to me.
'Shaping a Decade: Ten Years of Vogue Shape Issue Covers', 2012, Vogue, viewed November 19, http://www.vogue.com/vogue-daily/article/the-past-decade-of-shape-issues/#1
Wade, L, 2009, 'Vogue Puts a Woman of Color on the Cover and Manages to be Both Sexist and Racist', The Society Pages, viewed November 19,
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