Sexism and the Careers of Actress Kathy Bates and Comedian Diane Ford

Re the Jan. 27 cover stories about Kathy Bates and Diane Ford: What they and others are experiencing in entertainment is a reflection of a cultural bias that permeates our society. Women’s achievements are downgraded, and The Times is not immune from taking the same slant.

Note that while the articles “tsk-tsked” the Hollywood “old boys,” a commentary by Peter Rainer in the same issue states that ‘Pretty Woman” and “Ghost” will restore the star status of Richard Gere and Patrick Swayze. How is it that a smash like “Pretty Woman” that is carried by the performance of Julia Roberts suddenly transforms into a Richard Gere comeback film? Easy, the same way “Ghost” becomes a Patrick Swayze vehicle rather than a breakout movie for Demi Moore. If a woman carries a huge hit, automatically the movie is “story driven” and a big boost to the careers of any men involved.

Before you cast too many more stones at the biases of the film business, you ought to take a look at your own copy. Perhaps then I will not be looking at an article on Gloria Estefan (Jan. 27) that starts out with a description of her beautiful body, follows up with a quote about her butt and segues to a paragraph on her tight shirt and pants. And she can sing too?

DENISE ARANT

Glendale