Vanity Fair or Unfair?

Thank you for bringing attention to what many of my peers consider an unscrupulous attempt to perpetuate the sexist image of women in Hollywood--and in our society at large (“A Tribute or Demeaning Reflection?,” Calendar, March 16).

Being a writer, the first page I turned to in the “Hollywood” issue of Vanity Fair was the screenwriters’ portrait. Imagine my dismay at seeing not one female face in the crowd.

Vanity Fair rep Elise O’Shaughnessy explains that five female writers were invited but couldn’t make it. Five women--versus more than 18 men. Gee, that’s fair.

Of course, it came as no surprise that the very next page portrayed studio exec Sherry Lansing as a bathing beauty . . . the shot was part of an old ad campaign for American Express. Could it be that editor Graydon Carter knew exactly what he was doing when he didn’t give Lansing the opportunity to be photographed as the dignified and powerful professional that she is?

I’m even more disappointed in the poor judgment exhibited by most of the actresses who appear inside and on the cover page. These are smart, talented women who don’t need to shed their clothes or adopt coy poses to make a living. Next time, ladies, think of the next generation of working women and try to elevate our image instead of degrading it.

MEG CORBETT

Los Angeles

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Ladies, stop whining. Everyone looks great, especially Sherry Lansing.

ART SIMON

Laguna Hills

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Imagine that: A magazine exploiting women. And Hollywood executives say they are outraged. The women on the cover were, in effect, portraying characters, sexual characters created by these so-called executives--male and female. Their outrage is reminiscent of the boy who killed his parents and then pleaded for mercy on the grounds that he was an orphan.

COLIN FLAHERTY

San Diego