I wrote about the sultry Cosmopolitan magazine covers a while ago. Walmart continues to display them front and center at their check out counters. Young children and under age teens continue to be exposed to pre-pornographic pictures and pornographic headlines every time they go to the grocery store. At least Publix stores try to keep the magazines covered. The Walmart near my house does not (even after repeated requests to do so).

Cosmopolitan has launched a new strategy designed to attract younger women. Dakota Fanning kicked the campaign off in the January issue. Barely eighteen, Dakota posed beside the headline, “HIS BEST SEX EVER”. The February edition features ‘tween’ and teen idol Selena Gomez. The headline,“50 SEX TIPS”, is strategically placed beside her right shoulder and her ample cleavage.

It’s not just the cover that concerns me, it’s the content as well. Nicole Weider of Project Inspired summed it up well.  As she says about Cosmo:

This publication has steadily declined into a full-on pornographic “how to” guide for teens and vulnerable young girls. Every issue dares girls and encourages them to try new sex moves (including anally), engage in threesomes, experiment with lesbianism, have public sex, watch porn, (with specific URLS listed!) and using sex toys such as dildos, shower heads, and vibrating tongue rings to “please your man and stimulate your clitoris.”

What is a parent to do? In addition to teaching your kids about the character of God and how that affects every decision we make; keeping the communication lines open and helping them choose to fill their minds with that which is good, pure, noble and holy (Philippians 4:8); you can join thousands of concerned adults who want Cosmopolitan’s adult only message restricted to… adults only! Go to: http://www.change.org/petitions/cosmopolitan-is-aggressively-marketing-explicit-porn-tips-to-minors-put-cosmo-in-a-non-transparent-wrapper-and-sold-to-adults-only Sign the petition asking that Cosmopolitan magazine be required to put the magazine in a non-transparent wrapper and sold to adults only.

ALSO, as I said in my blog post, Walmart and Cosmopolitan (blog.dg4kids.com/kathy-brights-korner/walmart-and-cosmopolitan/), please let your local grocery managers know that you’re offended by the Cosmo covers and don’t want your children exposed to the suggestive pictures and sexually explicit headlines.  Let them know that if they care about our children, they’ll cover up Cosmo.

We are not alone in this fight for the hearts and minds of our children. Let’s join our voices together and make a difference. Cosmo has the right to publish sexually explicit covers, but they don’t have the right to force our children to be exposed to it. Since our families must eat, we have no choice but to go to the grocery store. Cosmo (and your grocery store) does have a choice…cover up!

Like and share this blog if you agree!