Advertiser Quote by Gloria Steinem
“The error that we tend to make is that we think that women's magazines are what editors want and what their readers want - and thus are social indicators - when, in fact, they are what advertisers want. They're just advertising indicators.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Media and Consumer Culture, 1995
Women’s magazines reflect advertisers’ goals more than readers’ needs, turning them into marketing tools rather than social barometers.
In simple terms: Magazines serve advertisers, not readers.
Key Takeaway
Question the motives behind media content.
Themes
media
advertising
gender
consumerism
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
educational
When to use this quote
- advertising
- media analysis
- marketing strategy
- public policy
Key Concepts
market dynamics
social influence
gender representation
media literacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this affect women’s self‑image?
- What alternatives exist for authentic representation?
A Different Perspective
Advertising motives can obscure genuine social issues.
![“In a print interview, as you may or may not know, they [editors] can do whatever they want. And they do. This is why most people are more hesitant to do print, because they can change it, and they do change it. They even change things that are in quotation marks, which is a pet peeve of mine. I've…” quote by Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/74b/fran-lebowitz-690_can-do_in-a-print-interview-as-you-may-or-may-n_1784638.jpg)
