Fact: She’s probably not getting paid a dime. | Source: Shutterstock

Here at Gurl, we pay our interns (Hi, Emerald!), but the hard truth is that at most major publishing houses (you know, the companies behind your favorite fashion and gossip magazines), internships are not only super hard work, but also utterly unpaid.

A lot of people in the industry think unpaid internships are fine, because the girls and guys who are interning are learning valuable skills on the job (which is true)–or they think it’s good for college kids to go through, because they went through it themselves at the beginning of their careers (and are just too far away from it now to remember how totally broke they were).

But the ramifications of an almost industry-wide standard of unpaid internships are far more damaging than a lot of people realize. It’s not just about a bunch of undergrads having to survive on ramen noodles for a summer–it’s actually a class issue, and both college kids and the companies they intern for would benefit from changing the system.

Here’s why: For years, people have complained that there’s an imbalance of who gets into big publishing and who doesn’t. I don’t have a survey to quote or a scientific report, but I’ve been on staff at a couple major magazines, and the majority of the staffers are white women who come from pretty well-off backgrounds. I’m not saying that’s always the case, (I’m white, but I definitely don’t come from money–my dad fixed refrigerators for a living; and I do know that several people who run the magazines we all know and love have made a huge effort to hire more minorities over the years); but what I am saying, is there’s a problem with diversity in the industry and a whole lot of people are aware of it.

Money changes EVERYTHING. | Source: Shutterstock

True story: After one month at my first magazine internship, I told my boss I had to quit to get a real job at a cafe or something, because I needed to pay my rent. I got lucky, and they offered to pay me for my work. If that hadn’t happened? Let’s just say I don’t think I’d have the career I do today.

I’m not saying that super bright and driven girls who come from more financially well-off families don’t deserve internships (they do!) or that interns should be making tons of cash for their summer gigs (I honestly believe living off of ramen noodles at least once in your life is good for your soul)–but the system does need to change. I’m not sure what the answer is, though. Maybe companies could set up dorms and subsidize rent for interns or perhaps they could pay college kids in stipends or scholarships.

Internships are supposed to open doors, but unpaid internships mean that those doors are already closed and locked to a whole lot of bright, talented kids . . . and that? Well, that’s not helping anybody.

What do you think about unpaid internships? Have you ever had an unpaid internship? Do you have a job right now? Tell us all about it in the comments!

Tell Us About Your Job!

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You’ll get real work experience, meet crazy smart people who can help you with your career, and find out what you really love to do. Try not to screw it up! Just kidding, you won’t. Remember, you’re an intern, you’re supposed to be a tad clueless. You’ve never done this before.

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