Dear Cosmo,

I have been an avid reader of your magazine since the first time I was actually "old" enough to be able to understand all that graced your pages. When I was finally allowed to pick up the pages of your magazine and get lost in the fabulous advice columns, stories, and new fashion trends and beauty tips, I was instantly hooked.

As someone in their early 20's, I continue to read your magazine and have a monthly subscription because it's just that good. (I still get a little embarrassed seen reading it in public however due to the bold, raunchy, feature stories that grace your cover so everyone can see what I'm reading, even if I'm not exactly reading your magazine for that...aka titles like "Sex So Hot"). But this is besides the point. What I'm really writing you this letter about is how with all of the pressures of media today, trying to influence youth (and I'm sure there are people a lot younger than 18-20 reading your magazine), it's difficult to find a magazine that is honest and true; one that answers all the questions we have whether we want to hear them or not.

I like to consider myself a feminist, however I still have guilty pleasures and things I enjoy that other feminists don't. I don't consider myself a die-hard feminist but I do believe in equality for all between men and women. I have defended your magazine in a number of my college courses like "Women & Gender Studies" arguing that although some may view the magazine as typical, and mainstream, there's so much more to it, and there are a lot of empowering stories that grace your pages.

Unfortunately, there is one part of your magazine that I simply cannot defend, a part that in today's day in age that never made sense to me, the section of your magazine that discusses "hot" outfits that people wore well, there still is a section that is titled "Skanky," a section showing women in clothing that is deemed "Skanky" by your writers and contributors. And for lack of a better word I don't find this "Cool."

As women, we're supposed to be empowering each other to live our lives the best we can, to be able to give each other advice, to be able to trust one another but how can we do that when your very magazine, the one that I have loved since I can remember and I know millions of others have, continue to "Slut Shame" women? How is that okay? Is this what you want to teach young girls who are reading your magazine (probably way younger than they should be, but are going to read it anyway)? I know that when I'm a mother, that's not something I want my child seeing, and better yet myself. It's bad enough living in modern day society where, as women we are constantly being criticized for our bodies and our outer, physical appearances. By calling what other women wear "Skanky" you're just making it okay for guys to call us skanky, perpetuating rape culture, and telling young girls who read your magazine everywhere that if you dress a certain way you are deemed a "Slut."

For the sake of myself and the millions of other women reading your magazine I would really appreciate it if you took this section out. Other than it being inappropriate, you're fueling the fire of our common day, misogynistic society that already perpetuates this kind of behavior; when as women we should be the ones stopping it, not egging it on.

I hope that through others reading this letter to you they feel the same way and some how it makes it's way to you, where something can be done to change this part of your magazine. It's unnecessary for your magazine since it's already amazing enough on it's own. Any time a magazine "Slut Shames" women, I cringe at the site of these horrible words and names and I'm sure others do too. Next time you think about writing a section of your magazine that degrades women, whether they dressed a little more risqué, or revealing, that it will never be alright to "Slut Shame" them or portray them as "Asking For It" because if we ever want to get past these outrageous stories of women becoming victim to rape crimes, and the mistreatment of women by men (or even by other women for that matter), you stop, think, and reevaluate what you're going to put in the pages of your magazine.

Sincerely,

An avid Cosmo reader