Bratz, Bitch and Bust

A few months ago, while watching TV with my sons, I said, “Oh, yeah, all the baby girls I know wear eyeliner, mascara and lip gloss.”

I was complaining about Bratz Babyz, and my sons knew I was being sarcastic. (They’ve known the meaning and usage of sarcasm from early on. At the tender age of 3, my oldest son would ask me if I was using the “s word” when I made comments like that.)

So I was quite happy to read in a recent issue of Bitch magazine someone else pointing out the horror that is Bratz Babyz and that babies – baby boys and baby girls – shouldn’t be portrayed as sex objects.

Bitch is published quarterly with the tag line, “Feminist response to pop culture.” Along similar lines is the bi-monthly (published six times a year) Bust, “For women with something to get off their chests.” Oy.

I buy both magazines, but I like Bitch better. (I hate it’s name, but that’s because I can’t say that word.) Bitch isn’t as pretty. It has a four-color cover, but it’s printed on regular (not glossy) paper stock, without color ink, and the layout is a bit juvenile. Some layouts look like the kind we made for our high school newspaper. (I’ve been in publishing for nearly 20 years and work with very talented artists and designers, so I think I’m qualified to say this.)

In contrast, Bust is entirely printed on glossy stock and looks a bit more like a consumer magazine from a big publisher. Susan Sarandon (my friend JS-GY’s favorite actress – that was sarcastic) was on a recent cover.

The magazines often cover similar topics. In fact, both the fall issue of Bitch and the Oct./Nov. issue of Bust have articles on women’s roller derby, but with slightly different takes. Bust claimed the Gotham Girls are bringing roller derby back to New York; Bitch asked, “Is roller derby the new burlesque?” Both print contributions from Ayun Halliday (a great essayist who writes about raising kids in the city). Both carry a lot of the same ads… Lunapads, anyone? (if you don’t know what they are, don’t ask). But Bitch sticks to its mission a little better. Bust is getting a little too big for its brassiere, perhaps. Its editor-in-chief (and co-publisher) is Debbie Stoller, who’s done really well with her Stitch ‘n Bitch books. It’s a little bit more trendy-hipster.

Still, both review books and music that you typically wouldn’t find reviewed elsewhere. I recommend them both just for a peek. In some stores they’re found in the “Women’s Interests” section; in others, “Gay and Lesbian.” (Question for you men out there… why are magazines like Maxim and Playboy and FHM placed under the heading of “Lifestyle Magazines.” Can’t we just call them Raunch?)