Recently, while browsing online, I stumbled across a magazine called Evie. Initially, I figured it was aimed at women, just based on the name.
However, since its launch in 2019, Evie has sparked quite a bit of controversy. Women across the political spectrum seem to have their grievances with it. Anytime it comes up in conversation, you can almost see the eye rolls and hear the disdainful snorts.
So, I felt compelled to dig deeper into Evie. Was it simply another run-of-the-mill women’s magazine? Or was it rallying the troops for something more extreme?
With that in mind, I braced myself for the worst. Maybe I’d find just another dull lifestyle magazine, or possibly a blog about new-age yoga—or perhaps something akin to Gwyneth Paltrow’s eclectic lifestyle brand, GOOP.
Just yesterday, I caught a mention of Evie on a right-leaning podcast. The female host, with a hint of cynicism, exclaimed, “Don’t even get me started on Evie!” It was as if she regarded it as one of the most cringe-inducing aspects of modern womanhood.
Exploring Evie
Curiosity piqued, I decided to take a closer look at Evie. And right off the bat, it reminded me of magazines like Cosmopolitan from around 2005, or Mademoiselle and Elle—those glossy women’s magazines that were prominent in my younger days.
Honestly, I used to enjoy those magazines. There was something amusing about the classic listicle articles like “7 Sex Tips to Arouse Your Man,” or “5 Ways to Seduce a Handsome Guy at the Gym.” They were silly, sure, but I often felt drawn to read them anyway, especially if the writers managed to nail the humor.
I thought nothing of it until I decided to dive into one of Evie’s articles titled “How to Plan a Date That Actually Leads to Sex.”
At first glance, I thought, wow, this is like a contemporary Cosmopolitan. (The original Cosmo was definitely pro-sex.) But, upon reading, I found myself puzzled. What was the writer’s fixation on her husband?
After a moment, I looked closely at the headline again and realized it specified “Date Night.” This provided clarity—it referred to the intimate context between a husband and wife. Hence, the article was actually geared towards how couples connect physically.
This gave off a very traditional vibe, suggesting that Evie is conservative and plays into marriage promotion. Yet, I began to wonder why conservative women found it embarrassing.
Was it perhaps that it’s perceived as traditionally boring? Could it be that it’s just “too” traditional?
Understanding the Response
So, I took to Google to see others’ opinions on Evie and to understand the backlash. It turns out Evie labels itself as “the conservative version of Cosmopolitan.” Now that puts things into perspective.
While Evie does espouse traditional values, it leans towards a wholesome, 1950s aesthetic, likely tailored for Midwest women who might feel disconnected from contemporary culture. Many articles focus on baking pies and home improvement, or even handling personal issues like a husband’s sleep apnea.
Maybe that’s the crux of the issue—sophisticated young women aren’t embracing it, even if they align with its principles. They might find it too cliched or even a tad sexually repressive—not “smart” enough for their tastes.
The Real Picture
My curiosity led me to check out Evie’s Wikipedia page. To my surprise, it’s far from mundane. It seems to be at the forefront of a rather alarming conservative trend in America!
According to Wikipedia:
Evie has published conspiracy theories, pseudoscientific content, and misinformation regarding vaccines. It’s characterized as anti-feminist and aligns with far-right ideologies.
This was a shocker. It felt as though Evie was promoting a primitive, regressive viewpoint—where women were dragged back to a bygone era!
But it appears it goes further than that. As reported by another source, Evie includes:
Harmful content featuring unscientific claims about women’s health, anti-transgender rhetoric, unfounded conspiracies, and misleading pro-life narratives, among other topics.
Delving Deeper
I wanted to truly grasp Evie’s essence. Was it merely a traditional women’s magazine? Or was it, in fact, a rallying call for extremists?
Diving into its archives, I found some articles that included:
- 5 Reasons Why You’ll Regret Your Boob Job
- I Taped My Mouth Shut Every Night for Two Years—Here’s How It Changed My Life
- Types of Women’s Dresses That Men Prefer: Do Sundresses Really Live Up to the Hype?
- Why Do So Many Women Feel Unwell After Treatment?
- A Quick Morning Guide to What My Wife Thinks About All Day
These pieces felt light and fluffy, but they hardly screamed “far-right male supremacist.”
A Glimpse of Positivity
Then I encountered an article titled “Resurrection of Tumblr Girl.” It really stood out to me because it was more thoughtful and in-depth.
This piece reflected on the Tumblr culture before 2014 when young women shared their personal aesthetics—everything from music to art styles. It painted that era as a stark contrast to today’s hyper-political climate where discussions have devolved into noise and hostility.
The article noted that Tumblr’s aesthetic culture was a much healthier outlet for young people, especially women, compared to the often-manufactured controversies of today.
In “Resurrection of the Tumblr Girl,” the author expressed hope for a revival of this aesthetic movement.
In summary, my take on Evie is this: it’s a casual, somewhat superficial women’s magazine with a distinctly conservative perspective. Yet, akin to the original Cosmopolitan, it features some intelligent and insightful writing hidden within its pages. So, I’d suggest not being so quick to dismiss it.
And if you’re a fan of those quick, breezy articles—who isn’t?—Evie has plenty to offer.
