Spreading Ideals That Are Too Thin

Re “Feminine Ideal Shifts in China’s Cultural Evolution,” Dec. 1: One thing that has not changed about feminine ideals is that these models are still painfully thin. Unfortunately, the pendulum has not swung back to a more normal female body type for decades, and it looks like it won’t for the foreseeable future. Is it possible to both be bone-thin and to eat and live normally? The answer is: almost always no.

Congratulations, America! We are spreading our rampant eating disorders all over the world. Countless beautiful, intelligent young women are starving or vomiting themselves to death to maintain this cruel standard. How are we supporting this “ideal”? How do we stop perpetuating it?

Diane Rowe

Santa Monica