. . . on the Jezebel site were rampantly ageist/sexist, and I am assuming that most of them were by women. Don't women understand that "old hags" are what we're all going to be? Whether we like it or not? No matter how much Botox or Restylane we get? Aging is still the only alternative to an early death.

...any description that would include Brown/Cosmo's vision is drawn, ahem, too broadly.

That Brown's image could use an overhaul is unquestionable. As a recent item on Jezebel.com suggests, to the current crop of smart young women, Brown is now little more than a joke, a hopelessly dated and gracelessly aging "bobble head" with an intentionally emaciated body and helmet hair, a peddler of cheesy sex quizzes and rampant cleavage at the magazine she edited for 32 years, Cosmopolitan.

Jezebel has a lot of cache these days as the women's online site. It has clearly forged a position for itself within the journalistic community. Certainly, Salon writers love to write about it, and apparently a number of female journalism majors from our country's top schools want to write for it.

Which tends to obscure the fact that from the time Brown took over the magazine, up to and passed her retirement, Cosmo has remained the Number 1 selling magazine for women on college campuses. You can't stay much more relevant than that, no matter what Miller wants to claim. It's top position has never been shaken. More college women read and respond to Cosmo than Jezabel. Why not an article on the out-of-touch nature of Jezebel and the continuing relevence of Cosmo?

Of course that ain't going to happen. If there's one truism on this site, it's that when reality and Salon wishful thinking collide, Salon eagerly ignores the latter for the sake of the former. I guess it's the inevitable consequence of an ideologically driven publication.

After reading this article, I went over to look at Cosmopolitan.com. Sad.

...and also one of those smart, educated women that supposedly doesn't deign to read such trash, thanks for this very interesting and informative piece on Helen Gurley Brown.

There's still a huge amount of classism in feminism. Helen Gurley had affairs with married men before marrying David Brown and makes no apology for them, and she's reviled as a hussy. Kate Millet runs around on her husband with both men and women, and she's exploring her sexuality.

(Note: I'm not condoning adultery by any means. I just think it's interesting.)

Even more than raunchy, unapologetic brand of feminism -- it's AIDS, Herpes, dead babies, drug addiction, alcholism, and depression, but let's pretend it's all fun and games and we are all indestructable, and we all live like Hollywood stars.

I think 'Feminism' can be more broad than the opinions of a few of the leaders.

Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were leaders a century before. Although good friends, they often argued about the direction of the movement, sometimes viciously. And one of the points was Stanton's eight children vs Anthony never marrying.

'Culture' is not the same as 'dogma'.

Dear Miss B Gurley,

I am sorry I was not tenacious,smart,intrepid,sexy or hot enough to listen when you spoke. That would have been awesome.

I was young and did not understand your importance.

Too late for me now (forty and whatnot.)

Perhaps one day I will investigate your influence.

I sure do hope you make me feel proud to be woman.

Tomorrow I will try to find the perfect outfit, matching accessories and tone of voice with hopes that they might land me a relevant job. Actually, any job will do...

I sure do hope cleavage is not a requirement :)

Maybe you know some strong powerful women (he he he I mean men) in business that might give a 40 year old "divorcee" with 3 kids a break.

You are only as old as you feel...

"Which tends to obscure the fact that from the time Brown took over the magazine, up to and passed her retirement, Cosmo has remained the Number 1 selling magazine for women on college campuses. You can't stay much more relevant than that, no matter what Miller wants to claim. It's top position has never been shaken. More college women read and respond to Cosmo than Jezabel. Why not an article on the out-of-touch nature of Jezebel and the continuing relevence of Cosmo?"

Oh dude, dude, dude, eek! Cosmo is NOT relevant. It's a joke magazine. Nobody takes it seriously, including college women. When I was a grad assistant teaching comp classes, I used the magazine in some lessons, and when I would bring my copies out, the entire class would snicker and roll their eyes, including all the women. And this is the Bible Belt, not some liberal feminist wonderland.

I have no idea why it's such a top selling magazine, but I suspect that it has to do with the kitsch factor and many women buying it ironically-oh time for my smut reading. Also it's incredibly vapid and brainless, so it's easy to look at when you're running on the treadmill or waiting nervously in a doctor's waiting room. Cosmo is not relevant in any shape or form to actual women's lives and to suggest so is insulting to all involved.

So during this week, when two of America's dominant religions are celebrating major holidays, you choose to give top billing to the woman who exhorted America's single girls "Let us PREY"!?

It couldn't wait till Easter Monday at least?

BTW your writer did not mention another "problem" with Ms. Brown and her magazine that both the Left and Right called her on, during the 80s.

Like some other "sexperts" she was late to the table during the AIDS crisis, and when her mag finally did cover it, there was a "nice Cosmo girls don't get it" tone to much of the coverage.

What a great article, thank you! I read COSMO at 15 and found it to be both fascinating and entertaining. When I picked it up 15 years later I found the same subject matter, updated with new titles.

To be so overly serious about this magazine is just plain silly. It is both fun and entertaining if you are between the ages of 15 - 25. I applaude Ms. Brown for bringing COSMO up out of the ashes and keeping it going for what seems like a bizillion years! Now she is the real Cosmo Girl. At a time when women were still considered the weaker and dumber sex, Ms Brown found a way to be creative, make money, make money and make some more money!