Conde Nast Traveler

While recommended in several places for placement in High School libraries, the undue emphasis on sex and the unhealthy promotion of certain body and beauty standards for women make this magazine a no-no for teens. Apart from the flurry of protests one can expect from parents for articles such as "10 things he's thinking when you're naked" or "8 sex moves every woman should try once", the fact is Glamour isn't intended for teen audiences. The rampant consumption of clothes, make-up and accessories promoted by this magazine are well out the price range of most girls without a college degree and full-time job (and even that's pushing it!). Furthermore, Glamour's obsession with celebrities and their gossip centers almost exclusively on the over-18 crowd. While Nicole Kidman is a beautiful, talented, high-profile actress, she was in fact born in 1967--a full 25 years before most High Schoolers. Kids looking for the dish on the Jonas Brothers or Miley Cirus might be better served by a magazine that focuses on teen stars, such as Tiger Beat.

The most personally disturbing aspect of this magazine, however, is its blase assumption that all its readers are 5'8", busty, and skinny as a rail. Frequent shots of runway models wearing the latest fashions reinforce this dangerous illusion, and very little--if any--space is given to the promotion of healthy body images. For teenage girls, who are going through some pretty serious changes on their own, these assumptions can be particularly damaging. The almost complete disconnect from reality espoused by these styles and sizes can be particularly deleterious to the self-esteem of kids in this age range. Not recommended. For readers 18 +.… (mere)