Your Independent Journal from the Heartland
There are many intelligent, astute columnists who write for this fine and much-needed publication. Hal Crowther is my favorite and his recent piece, “Hate Males: A Gender War Warning” (June 2026 TPP) had me shaking my head in agreement, as usual. However, I cringed and felt stabbed by his statement “… where I was much impressed by Gloria Steinem, and found her attractive as well.” I seriously doubt if Mr. Crowther would have mentioned finding a male interviewee attractive, and I’m amazed that a writer of his long experience and stature wouldn’t cut that fragment onto the editing floor, never to be seen again. His support for feminism and women is clear yet even he must mention a woman’s attractiveness. It speaks volumes about the very trend he addresses in his piece.
Some may think that I’m being overly sensitive. Consider: Stop Street Harassment partnered with UC San Diego, Raliance, a national collaborative committed to ending sexual violence in one generation (very admirable but good luck with that one), and other organizations to conduct a study in 2018 regarding sexual harassment and assault in the U.S. A stunning 81% of women surveyed reported such treatment. I shudder to think how much higher that percentage is given how many crimes go unreported, not to mention our increasingly misogynist times. I am a part of that large group as are many of the women that I know. The worst part of my story is that it’s so common. So, no apologies from my corner.
I lost hope long ago of achieving gender equality in my time and Mr. Crowther’s faux pas, in an otherwise excellent piece, was just another slap in the face added to a life-time of slaps.
In disappointment,
SUSAN ODEGARD, Westminster West, Vt.
