There's a Reason it's Called "Gossip GIRL."

TEEN STAR ZAC EFRON REPORTS FAVORITE CARTOON AS "ROCCO'S MODERN LIFE!"

...No wonder all celebrity headlines star women. Would you pay $3+ to read about Zac Efron's cartoon suggestions? Didn't think so...and neither would I.

As a big magazine consumer myself, I know what sold me and what didn't. Human nature forces us to be interested in scandal, and see or read about people during times of distress, whether that be for the sole purpose of amusement or to be able to say "I'm glad that's not me." As harsh as that sounds, it's only true. There are the rare occasions where celebrities have babies or get married, and people like to read about that in celebration, but do they sell half as well as magazines starring gossip and scandal? It's very doubtful.

So why is the world so infatuated with women in distress and not men?
When was the last time you looked at an article about a womanizing man or a man doing drugs and thought "I HAVE TO HAVE THAT?"
If you're a female reading this, you probably just said "rarely." And if you're a male reading this, then you probably just said "never, but that doesn't normally happen with magazines featuring women either," which is exactly the point. It's the main point in this whole "why aren't men the targets of gossip?" debacle.

How many men buy magazines about gossip or whose doing what drug or what rehab centre so and so is in? Furthermore, how many males even buy magazines period? I'm sure there are those rare cases of the males trying to bulk up and are obsessed with the "quick tips to bulk up" in Muscle and Fitness or let's face it-porn, but truly, what's the ratio between females and males buying magazines? I'd have to say it must be a huge gap. Not only because females are just more likely to want to be socially inclined to the entertainment world, but also because it’s no secret that women tend to pamper themselves more than their male counterparts-and that means buying unnecessary, useless things. I know there are not many women that can say they don’t enjoy a nice bubble bath, with candles and a Cosmo. Women love luxury and a magazine is not the most practical purchase in the world.

This is obviously a double standard in the media. And I am most definitely all for women’s power, and equality amongst the sexes, but this is one of those double standards, in my opinion, that is acceptable. If the tabloids were smart, which it seems as though they are, they would continue to do what they’re doing. The magazine industry is a billion dollar industry, and I am certain that if they started to broaden their scope and create more of a 50/50 standpoint on entertainment news, their sales would most definitely go down.

The bottom line is that women love gossip. They love hearing about women that seem more glamorous than them, and that their husbands and boyfriends fantasizes about, in misery. There's even a new show out called "Gossip Girl," which evidently targets them. Females also love magazines about gorgeous men, and how hot they are, but there are only so man hot men in the world, and there are also only so many times a magazine can print in issue like that and expect to sell it. And as for males, the most they’ll do is read is skim the magazine on the coffee table while their wives or girlfriends are taking forever go to get ready. So why not continue to print magazines that contain exactly the kinds things your target audience likes to read?