Thinness

Regarding Gerald Sozio’s April 5 letter (“Skinny Stars”): Perhaps women starve themselves to win admiration from other women. Thinness can be perceived as evidence of strength and power over the attractions of food. Our culture is unforgiving of women who lack this power. There’s an odd symmetry to this phenomenon. Thinness in men is not highly regarded; thin men sometimes use weight training to develop grotesquely hypertrophied musculature. Though generally unattractive to women, this often commands admiration and respect among men.

JOE CATANZARITE

Long Beach