Teenage girls have been turning to magazines for good advice for at least a hundred years. But as society changes, the topics covered by the magazines have also changed. A few examples.
The girls' magazine has always been a kind of paper 'best friend'. You could go there for advice. For example, readers of the pre-war magazine 'Droom en Daad' were encouraged to develop. This made the magazine a perfect fit for the times:in the 1920s, the emancipation of girls was a hot issue. 'Droom en Daad' emphasized that there was more to do for girls than just getting married.
From 1967 there was the 'Tina'. Full of comics about girls who had adventures with horses and handsome boys. After overcoming problems, characters like Peggy and Barbie always achieved success, love and happiness.
Some grown women thought Tina was unrealistic. And sex education and information about career choices were lacking. But the publisher said:'it's sweet, romantic, just what girls want'. The readers wanted to dream of themselves playing in a band or being a ballet dancer, beautiful and beautifully dressed.
In 2006, CosmoGirl is one of the magazines where sixteen-year-old girls get their knowledge about the tastiest must-haves of the spring, 'his kissing behavior' and 'celebs'. According to the editors, CosmoGirl is made for "girls who are just a little more spontaneous and popular than others". The topics range from light-hearted (fancy knee-breeches, glamor gossip) to heavy (STDs or internet terror). The magazine is still a friend and role model, but the 'coolest' there is.