TOW #13: "Donald Trump is Gaslighting America"

Teen Vogue has been typically thought of as a magazine with little substance other than fashion tips and superficial beauty regimens advertised toward young girls. This isn't surprising -- typically, any publication targeting teenage girls is written off as lacking depth or being unimportant, correlating with how the world as a whole tends to view this age group. However, Teen Vogue has consistently proven their merit in the past few years, with intelligent, well-written articles with topics ranging from social to political to cultural issues. Through articles like these, the magazine is taking the wide platform and influence they have with young girls and using it for good, to create a more educated and well-versed generation of girls.

One of the recent articles that has received a lot of attention from mainstream media is an Op-Ed piece entitled "Donald Trump is Gaslighting America", written by editor Lauren Duca. It is articles like this one that is what the magazine has come to be known for in recent years, much to mainstream media's surprise. With such a racially and socially diverse reader group, it makes sense that the kinds of articles the magazine publishes align with the more liberal-leaning views of the younger generation. 

This article in particular describes the effects of Donald Trump's manipulative tactics by laying out the term "gas lighting" for its readers, describing the origin and meaning of the term. "Gas lighting", the article says, "is to psychologically manipulate a person to the point where they question their own sanity, and that's exactly what Donald Trump is doing to this country". The extensive list of evidence and fact-checks following help drive the point home -- Donald Trump is manipulative, and frequently goes back on his word. 

The article closes with a call to action for readers, telling them what they can do to ensure their freedom and access to correct and true information isn't being taken away by mainstream media. It's incredibly empowering to read, and almost uplifting, as they describe how to rally together to defend against harmful political ideals, like the ones Trump and his supporters are spouting currently. The article closes with a heavy line, aimed again at empowering and calling young girls to action -- "It is imperative to remember, across identities and across the aisle, as a country and as individuals, we have nothing without the truth." 

Teen Vogue editor Elaine Welteroth