What do women want?

Hillary Clinton's run for the White House may have folded this week, but she certainly succeeded in advancing the cause of women as much as any politician in U.S. history. And while we're excited for the upcoming race between Barack Obama and John McCain, we'll never forget the image of a strong woman on the campaign trail. We hope to see another viable female candidate in every presidential election to come.

 

The question is, are the rest of us up to the challenge? Earlier this week The New York Times media columninst David Carr penned an interesting piece musing about the success of the "Sex and the City" movie (it took in about $55 million in its first weekend at the box office) and the rise of female-targeted web sites. The Times headlined his column aptly, "Slumber Parties Go Digital."

 

As my sister said, Carr's argument is not rocket science: Coverage of celebrity pregnancies, fashion, weddings and shoes is as popular online as it is in the women's magazines that many of us have a love-hate relationship with. His final analysis: The revolution for women on the Web so far is "shallow, but one that carries deep implications."

 

What do women readers want?

A few months ago, while lunching with a successful startup CEO, I asked for ideas on how to get better distribution for our site and The WeeklyDIVA, which, as you know, attempts to help busy women stay on top of the news. He said, "Don't women want horoscopes?"

Recently I asked the CEO of a growing and popular women-focused Web site why all the topics focused on "living" and "beauty." Where's the hard news, I asked? “It's an interesting question,” he said—it has to be filtered for the one thing women don’t have: time.

 

Then, just in the last week, I expressed to a friend of mine, another startup CEO on this recipient list, that we were trying to figure out how to grow our subscriber list. He says I’m unique, and not everyone shares my interests or passions for the news, which may make it difficult.

 

Really? Can it be that all those women out there that I know with one, two and three degrees don't care about the news and the lives that are impacted by events in their communities or in places far away? Is it really all just about cosmopolitans and lipstick for women?

 

Is there a place for content like The WeeklyDIVA?

At the WeeklyDIVA, we think it's about lipstick, cosmos—and using our brains. It's about feeling connected to the news, despite being so wrapped up in a new product launch, or so busy wiping baby food off the floor, that we didn't have time to read headlines about the housing market's collapse or why the lawyers in Pakistan were being attacked, and what that means for our lives.

 

In the end we know there is a place for The WeeklyDIVA in the sphere of women because we know you read it and we know you refer it to your friends. Naturally, as we grow we need resources. But you are our main resource—you and the other women out there who may be inaccurately categorized as just “horoscope" readers. This revolution on the Web for women does not have to be shallow. But the only way it won’t be is if we don’t let it be. 

Tell us what YOU think: What do women want? And be sure to read David Carr's column.

Best,

Stacey

editor, The WeeklyDIVA

We'll be back with news next week. We just couldn't let this one go!

Comments

[none]

SINCE YOUR MOM IS OLDER THAN ME, i BRING UP THE AVERAGE AGE, BUT i'M NOT THE OLDEST.
iT'S BECAUSE HE HAVE SO LITTLE TIME, BECAUSE WE SPEND SO VERY MANY HOURS AT WORK so we won't appear like slackers concerned primarily with make-up, THAT THE NEWS SUMMARY IS ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT. SINCE WE HAVE SUCH DIVERSE INTERESTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, WE NEED TO KEEP UP WITH THE NEWS AND NOT APPEAR LIKE IDIOTS EVEN THO WE CAN'T READ THE PAPER END-TO END AS WE READ THE BREAKFAST PREPARED FOR US.
We can get much of the other frou frou stuff from magazines and pictures - it's the news, but even more so the synthesis that keeps me reading.
by the way, you know how women are helpful and like to share. I do that when I encourage others to sign up - good for them, good for you, and it's already good for me.
Have a good week.
Marcy

[Brittany]

Wow...what a perfectly expressed dilemna. And I think it essentially goes down to mass vs. "elites", and the latter are just not numerous enough for big marketers to focus on, particularly in the low margin media field. But I personally crave and covet places where I can read smart commentary, where I can get caught up on the news even when I really don't have the time to, and where I know that similarly-minded women are also going to share in a similar experience. Thank you for that!

[mother of all mavens]

What do women want? Hmmmm. I don't think they have an aversion to reading about politics or lipstick colours or parenting issues - as long as the writing's good. They want to be intrigued, encouraged, challenged. They want what most people want - health, happiness, peace of mind. Throw some stable relationships and some sort of rewarding job (paid or otherwise) into the mix, and you're good to go...And if they read about someone else's relationships and careers? Let's call it inspiration and call it a day.
www.motherofallmavens.blogspot.com

[Dannie]

I am not one of the women that is only a mom, or only into horoscopes, or only into what lipstick color is now. I am all of thoe stage and more. I love to read, I like to know what is happening, and I am thankful that The WeeklyDiva exists. I would be you if I could!

Thanks, Dannie

[Amy Har-Even]

Hello,

I think you are doing such a great job: I actually wish this column came more often to my inbox. I love your emails because they aren't women-centric: it's just the news that's out there and relevant. I really don't care about the latest beauty treatments or what's on the runways--those are things that just don't come up in conversation at dinner parties, etc. As a woman, I want exactly the information you're giving me!

Thanks,
Amy

[Emily]

There is absolutely a place for content like the WeeklyDiva. I applaud you for keeping your finger on the pulse of what women want.

A professor at my women's college once told me that having a degree is absolutely irrelevant if a woman does not stay on top of current events. I firmly agree with that sentiment and think that the WeeklyDIVA does a wonderful job of integrating news that matters to women with wider current events that affect us not only as women, but as members of a much wider global community. Lipstick, cosmos - and using our brains do not have to be mutually exclusive!

Bravo, and please keep up the good work!

http://artsetoile.wordpress.com/

[Michelle]

Stacey -

I honestly don't know how to react to the feedback you received. I can't aurge against it completely as I have plenty of friends that hate when I ask questions or bring up 'real news'. Yet plenty of others (including yourself) where I feel like woefully underinformed in comparison. It's quite dishearteneing if the impression is that all we care en masse about is horoscopes.

[ben]

actually, it's not just for women. i read every one of em and i love the info they give.
ben