1. Letter to newspaper

The Offense

To the Editor:

I am outraged by The Washington Post's Feb. 2 article by Brigid Schulte, entitled "Fresh Look at Martha Washington, Less First Frump, More Foxy Lady." This article is sexist, plain and simple. Schulte's article does not simply report the work of "revisionist" historians who think Washington's physical image needs revamping, it advances their offensive premise.

It reinforces the message that a woman, no matter what her other qualities, must be "hot" and that her value is rooted in whether or not men are "sexually excited" by her.

The piece is stunningly biased against women of a certain age and size. The article insults this country's first First Lady by derogatorily describing her as: frumpy, dumpy, plump, old, fusty, withered, stodgy, mousy, fat, double-chinned Old Mother Hubbard, tired, dull, etc. One of its main points appears to be assuring readers that this nation's "dashing and virile" first president did not marry an old lady for her money. Schulte helps to make an unmistakable link between the impression that George loved Martha "deeply" and the assurance that she was "quite a beautiful woman in her younger years."

Worst of all, you saw fit to run this story on your front page! Here we are in the year 2009 -- we just had a woman run for president and another for vice president, but we can't seem to get past these restrictive and belittling gender stereotypes.

I call on The Washington Post to stop printing articles that degrade the accomplishments of women like Martha Washington and demean all women in the process. Sexism such as this should have no place in the dissemination of news.

I look forward to receiving a response from you addressing this issue.

Sincerely,

_______________

2. Letter to advertiser

The Offense

Dear Advertising Director,

I have been subjected to your sexually exploitative commercials while watching the Super Bowl and other televised sporting events. As a potential customer of your services and products, I want you to know that I am particularly disgusted by your ads featuring race car driver Danica Patrick. Your eagerness to take a woman who is accomplished in a field traditionally dominated by men and reduce her to a sex object is deplorable.

One ad features three geeky, horny young men who are able to make Danica take a shower for their amusement while they watch it over the Internet. They are also able to add another woman to the scene -- a woman who works at their school, no less! You might find it funny and titillating, but this ad promotes the control of women and the use of them as objects for voyeuristic sexual gratification. The other ad features a woman showing off her "enhanced" breasts.

It's true that sex sells, and it is one of the simplest ways for an advertiser to attract attention to its brand. However, many boys and girls, teens and young adults watch sporting events, and your ads are sending a dangerous message that women are sexual playthings whose dignity and individuality are secondary to the pursuit of male approval. In the year 2009, these restrictive gender stereotypes are outdated and offensive, and it's time for them to go.

I urge GoDaddy.com to stop producing ads like this that degrade the accomplishments of women like Patrick and demean all women in the process. No business should promote, finance or benefit from the sexual exploitation of women -- certainly not a business that values its female customers.

I look forward to receiving a response from you addressing this issue.

Sincerely,

_______________

3. Letter to TV network

The Offense

Dear Executive Producer and Network Executive,

Even by the over-the-top standards of the FX show Nip/Tuck, the "Roxy St. James" episode that aired on Jan. 27 was shameful and dangerous on several levels.

First and foremost, the scene of a woman cutting off her own breast with an electric carving knife was unconscionable. It played into our society's fascination with violence against women (although you cynically had this woman inflict violence upon herself), while promoting the stereotype of the out-of-control, emotional, irrational woman.

Nip/Tuck's effort to tackle the issue of breast cancer this season was completely undercut by this exploitative episode. The show took the very serious, topical matter of at-risk women having pre-emptive surgery in an effort to avoid developing breast cancer and turned it into a gory spectacle.

The possibility that the character might be mentally ill was implicit, but was not at all addressed. The doctors initially did not take the woman's concerns seriously, but once she had maimed herself they proceeded to perform a full mastectomy on her without hesitation. An unmistakable message was sent -- that women must do something horrible and extreme to themselves to get men (and/or the medical establishment) to listen to them. If the writers of Nip/Tuck were trying for insightful commentary, you missed the mark, achieving only shock and horror.

I urge the producers of Nip/Tuck and the executives at FX to stop using and abusing women characters in this way. The media play an important role in today's society, and you have the power to affect the way women are viewed and how they view themselves. Please expand beyond depicting women as sex objects to be ogled, long-suffering martyrs to be pitied and wicked villains to be avenged. Your viewers deserve better.

I look forward to receiving a response from you addressing this issue.

Sincerely,

_______________