In a time of growing attention to gender inequality, it's ironic that the upcoming Super Bowl LII reminds us of the overall cultural blaming of a woman when she and a man are both engaged in inappropriate "workplace" behavior.
How is it that Justin Timberlake has been invited to perform here in Minneapolis for the Super Bowl halftime show? Where's Janet Jackson?
Before you laugh, consider this — both had agreed ahead of time for their halftime "prank" at Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004. While on stage, Justin reached over and ripped off a piece of Janet's dress covering her decorated left breast. Even if she'd worn a piece of lace, it would not excuse their bad behavior. They were both at fault and they knew it. They both apologized later.
Yet what happened after? It became labeled as Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction." She was disinvited from gigs and was not invited to many future performance ceremonies. As for Justin? He continued to grow in popularity, win awards and more. In other words, the blame for this negative "workplace" behavior landed on the woman.
This is such an unfortunate basic cultural "norm." The blame too often stays glued to the woman. And that sexism can grow and spread through more critical issues in our culture.
Let's at least stop this "wardrobe malfunction" sexism at this basic cultural level. We have the ability to do it. Now.
How? Invite Janet Jackson to also perform at Super Bowl LII. Support the woman, too!
Allison Seaborn, St. Paul
VIKINGS' PROSPECTS
Every Minnesota heartbreak is soon to be remedied. Believe!
I have been shocked and dismayed as I hear my fellow Minnesotans give up on our Vikings (" 'There is no damn curse,' " Jan. 5). I know the Vikings have a history of spectacular failures, but THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT! There will be no penalty ('75), dropped pass ('87), missed field goal ('98) or interception ('09). There will be no embarrassing loss (Kansas City '70, Miami '74, Pittsburgh '75, Oakland '77, Mondale '84). This Super Bowl victory will reveal the grand design of all past failures as we triumph on our own native soil, bringing glory not only to the Vikings, but to all of Minnesota. Search your feelings — you know it to be true. It is our destiny. Minnesota will triumph! This is not a time to look to the past and doubt, but a time to look to the future and believe. We are witnessing the dawn of a new Vikings dynasty. Skol Vikings!
Conrad Hjort, Duluth
FOOTBALL'S RISKS
Friends and family of letter writer concur: Weights are up
I write in support of claims made by my Carleton College classmate, Tom Fabel, regarding the incredible size of today's football players ("Size limits are in order," Readers Write, Jan. 1).
I have a small collection of 60-year-old football trading cards, which include the players' physical statistics. The collection includes these interior linemen:
• Bob Pellegrini, center for the Philadelphia Eagles: 6 feet 2 inches, 225 pounds. (Maybe he could play quarterback today.)
• Dave ("Hog") Hanner, tackle for the Green Bay Packers, 6 feet 2, 250 pounds.
• Dale Dodrill, guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers, 6 feet 1, 215 pounds.
• Leo Sanford, center for the Chicago Cardinals (who moved to St. Louis after the 1959 season), 6 feet 1, 230 pounds.
• Bill Forester, guard for the Green Bay Packers, 6 feet 3, 235 pounds.
• Leo Nomellini, tackle for the San Francisco 49ers (by way of Minnesota), 6 feet 3, 252 pounds.
As Tom stated, the roughly 100-pound increase in the size of today's interior linemen, in a mere 60 years, cannot be attributed to evolution, which works slowly over eons. Sadly, many of today's superhuman football players will regret gaining so much weight as their bodies age.
Robert W. Carlson, Plymouth
• • •
As much as I agree with my brother's letter regarding the correlation between football injuries and massive weight, I wish to remind him that the Japanese have offered their solution for centuries: sumo wrestling.
Phil Fabel, Arden Hills
• • •
While the suggestion offered by a separate Jan. 1 letter writer — the complete elimination of (full-contact) football as a competitive varsity sport by Minneapolis Public Schools — is likely unrealistic, I would like to offer two additional suggestions: (1) start flag football, which could have separate varsity teams for boys and girls, as a six-on-six or seven-on-seven, noncontact sport, and (2) start varsity boys volleyball programs. The latter suggestion is especially relevant, even as a stand-alone proposal. Boys club volleyball is starting to pick up steam in Minnesota, but the sport is not yet officially sanctioned by the Minnesota State High School League. Being an early supporter of boys high school volleyball teams would give the Minneapolis schools a chance to be a leader in this emerging high school sport.
Tyler Lekang, Minneapolis
SURGERY COSTS
Two bills at Legislature, involving births, can help
Reducing the number of surgeries is the best way to reduce the costs, regardless of how those costs vary ("Surgery costs get rare reveal," Jan. 4). This year, two bills in the Legislature (SF 1737 and SF 1275) can help reduce the occurrence of Caesarean sections, one of most common surgeries in Minnesota, by increasing the availability of doula care. (Doulas can reduce the Caesarean rate by 28 percent or more, which would result in more than 5,200 fewer surgeries in Minnesota. Furthermore, research at the University of Minnesota has shown that doulas save $986 per birth on average among Medicaid patients, who comprise 40 percent of birthing parents.
Doula care is recommended by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and supported by research reviewed by the prestigious Cochrane Library, the gold standard of medical research. At a time of rising costs in all maternity care and cuts to Medicaid budgets, it is no surprise that doulas have the support of a number of Republican and Democratic legislators. Both bills deserve to be heard in committee and passed this session in order to reduce surgical births and unnecessary interventions and thus achieve better birth outcomes at lower costs to the public.
Susan Abdallah Lane, Minneapolis
LIFE TIME FITNESS
Not that but this on TV?
Ask Life Time Fitness (Bloomington) about the soft-porn music video big-screen TV channel I am forced to watch every time I climb on a treadmill. But political programming is unacceptable? ("Life Time Fitness tunes out news channels for workouts," Jan. 5.) Remind me again how TV in general and half-naked gyrating women specifically is "in keeping with our overall healthy way of life philosophy and commitment to provide family-oriented environments." (Life Time spokeswoman Natalie Bushaw.)
