<p>The new magazine Verily is pushing the borders of what we can expect of the portrayal of women in media. Verily has pledged to never alter the body or face structure of their models using Photoshop. At first glance this policy seems commendable, but further probing reveals the no-Photoshop policy to be hypocritical and demeaning to women.</p><p>Verily's mandate reads, "Whereas other magazines artificially alter images in Photoshop to achieve the so-called ideal body type or leave a maximum of three wrinkles, Verily never alters the body or face structure of the Verily models." That's right, Verily doesn't stand for women altering themselves to achieve an ideal look well, unless the altering is done through the use of makeup, hair products, and trendy clothing.</p><p>If a magazine is about celebrating women's natural beauty, don't contain an article which relates which makeup to wear to get "flawless matte skin." Don't write an article about which swimsuits will make women's bodies look better. And if it's not okay to alter a woman's body with Photoshop, don't alter her face with makeup. Don't instate a policy about embracing women's natural beauty in a magazine whose main article topics are how to fit into a predetermined idea of beauty.</p><p>This dichotomy between Verily's so-called founding principle and its actual subject matter reveals the no-Photoshop policy to be a ploy to attract women to yet another magazine which tells them how they should look and dress. Verily's pledge not to use Photoshop on its models rings hollow because the very basis of fashion magazines is that women should not embrace their natural beauty, but that they should buy certain clothes and wear certain makeup so they will fall into society's picture of feminine beauty.</p><p><a href="http://thedailycougar.com/2013/10/20/fashion-magazine-stumbles-wake-photoshop-free-policies/">Keep reading...</a></p>