Relevant Mag vs Radiant Mag
January 8, 2006
There is a new magazine coming out in March - for modern Christian women. Put out by the Relevant Media Group, that gave us the magazine for modern Christian men, er, wait…men & women. Well, shoot. I thought Relevant was a magazine for young, hip, relevant Christian 20-30 somethings - both men and women. But, now Relevant has put out a magazine directly specifically at women - Radiant (website here). So, this begs the question, was Relevant directed primarily at men? Or has it been? Anyway, I don’t know a whole about this, but ran across this blog here which discusses some of the implications and questions of sexism stemming from this.
This isn’t meant to bash Relevant. I do have problems with some of the theology of Relevant, but I’m actually going to be writing an article for them in March, so I’ll be letting you know about that. I just think this is interesting - was Relevant Magazine turning into a magazine directed specifically at young conservative Christian men? And is Radiant now the version for young conservative Christian women? Interesting. Sounds much like Breakaway and Brio. Huh.
Technorati Tags: Relevant Magazine, Sexism, Gender Roles
Posted in Sexuality
Adam Walker Cleaveland: 
January 8th, 2006 at 3:21 pm
breakaway and brio! talk about a blast from the past!
January 8th, 2006 at 7:34 pm
Oh come on, you know you’re bashing. ;-) Be up front with it. Loud and proud!
January 8th, 2006 at 9:23 pm
“It’s our turn now?”
Sheesh. Divide and conquer, I guess.
This says more about the niche marketing skills of the evangelical christian multimedia conglomerates than it does anything else.
January 8th, 2006 at 9:40 pm
i used to be all about some breakaway..
mark
January 8th, 2006 at 9:44 pm
Mark, I had a Letter to the Editor published in Breakaway, YEARS ago when I was in junior high. I **LOVED** that magazine. I even got a ’signed’ photo back from the “Breakaway boys.” I LOVED Bob Demoss’ column in the High Voltage music section….wow, how I would NOT like it now. Hmm, how times change.
January 9th, 2006 at 12:11 am
Hey thanks for the props! I appreciate you checking it out and I’m glad it caused you to think about it too. I write for Relevant too, so I’m not speaking from the outside.
January 9th, 2006 at 7:21 am
Last Summer I spent sometime with my 14 year old girl cousin and she was reading all these crappy women’s magizines or their girl counter parts and it made me really sad. Along with other things they are teaching her that she is not valuable unless she is physically gorgeous–so she better start saving up for a nose job (her words not mine). The only important things are money, stylish clothes and guys and friends that will help you look good and get those things. So, I wished that among other things there was an interesting well-made magizine that would teach her really life values and all the amazing things that she can do with her life but wasn’t embarressingly cheesy or telling her that her only ambition in life could be to be a good wife and mother (Brio). So, I don’t know if Radiant will be that magizine. But if it is, why should we bash it? From scimming Realevant in the past I have never thought of it as a man’s magizine (though it wasn’t a women’s zine either). I am confused about the problem.
January 9th, 2006 at 7:31 am
Amy, I wouldn’t say that I have a problem with a women’s magazine coming out that would be unlike Brio, or other Xian mags that constantly tell women their worth is in their breast-size, ability to be physically gorgeous and amount of kids they pop out.
However, the point of the article is that it’s interesting that the way they went about trying to sell this “It’s OUR turn now” - inherently implies that Relevant was the chance for MEN to get a ‘cool Xian mag’ and now it’s THEIR (women’s) turn now to have ‘their cool Xian mag.’
Does that make sense? It makes one wonder if those writing for Relevant were really aiming at both male & female audiences, etc. Now, before someone lists off all the articles that maybe *were* pertaining to women’s issues (because I know I read a few in Relevant a year or two ago) I have no doubt that Relevant was considering women - but maybe not as their primary target of the magazine.
I just think it’d be funny if it turned into another Breakaway & Brio. Theologically (on some issues), they’re not **too** far off.
January 9th, 2006 at 7:34 am
And Amy, let me point out - the cover model is STILL a thin, attractive young woman screaming “I’M A BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN AND MY LIFE IS GOOOOOOOD.”
January 9th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
Quick Question: Who buys more magazines, men or women?
Quick Answer: WOMEN.
Therefore, it makes sense to have a magazine dedicated to women, regardless of the aims of RELEVANT - and no, it’s not aimed at men. But for every Men’s magazine (not including porn) out there, there’s probably 10 geared towards women. It’s not sexism.
January 11th, 2006 at 3:05 pm
I was initially bothered by this Radiant Magazine deal - my first gut reaction was “lame!” But it is true that media is saturated with society’s impossible standards of beauty and self worth for a woman/girl. I suppose any magazine that will tell us chickadees diferently is to be applauded. However - I did chuckle when someone brought up the cover girl intended for the first issue of Radiant. Ohhh man we are a fine bunch.
I would be disappointed if Relevant and Radiant become a Breakaway/Brio thing. I dig the fact that Relevant appeals to any gender.