The 1920s was a revolutionary decade in which women thrived from housewives to independents when the 19th Amendment was finally passed and approved by Congress . The 1920s produced a new generation of women who were free to bob their hair, smoke camels, and skip the housewife role if they wanted. It seemed that the United States was finally living up to its name as the "land of the free," where women were allowed to vote, which was accompanied by a significant increase in the number of college degrees women earned and their progress in the labor market. Decades later, instead of women fighting for equal rights, a new mentality was imposed on women, which constitutes yet another gender barrier in our society. According to Martin's "The Famine Mystique," seven million women in America suffer from an eating disorder, which first develops because women struggle with their self-image, as the media strongly influences what constitutes femininity and their duty to please men. are one of, if not the, most influential sources in which women are constantly bombarded with ridiculous ideals that are mostly unrealistic. The magazine industry itself is a $40 billion industry in which a large portion of readers are women. Magazines with big bold text saying "Lose 10 Pounds in 1 Week" and having Nicole Richie on the cover, in a short strapless dress, seem like the downfall most women of this generation are facing. Women are now going on hunger strikes, not for the right to vote or any other cause of significant merit, but simply because the media touts being thin. Most women are more interested in the outfit that makes them look slimmer, or the lip gloss that will match middle of paper...the ideal body, skin tone or hair length? Gender is not what defines a person's true abilities, intelligence, or beauty. Works Cited “Television, Movies and Magazines: What Girls Should Watch and Read.” PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Internet. April 27, 2011. Cole, Harriette. “Did Elle magazine really clear Gabby Sidibe?.” The Root | Black News, opinion, politics and culture. September 17, 2010. The web. April 27, 2011. “How Do Magazines Affect Body Image?” | Education.com." Education.comA site about education and child development. Web. April 24, 2011. Magazines, girls and eating disorders." Eating Disorder Treatment.Web. April 26, 2011. Martin, Courtney. “The Mystical Famine.” Signs of life in the USA6 ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2009. 607. Print.Top 99 Most Desirable Women of 2011 - AskMen." AskMen - Men'sOnline Magazine. February 1, 2011. Web. April 27.. 2011.