In today’s New York Times, Jan Hoffman writes one of the most trenchant pieces to date on the Chris Brown violence case. Speaking to educators, academics, pop culture experts, and teens, she paints a grim picture of why teenaged girls, especially girls of color, are likely to blame Rihanna and exonerate Brown. Our question is: why is this important article in the “Style” section? Are women’s issues “style” issues? Is the increase in violent teen relationships that Hoffman writes about a “style” trend?
Kudos to Jan Hoffman for an excellent piece. Note to the NY Times: we would have loved to read it along with other breaking significant news and analysis in section A, instead of in the section which also features a long essay on facials and an article called “Therapy for Overspenders.” Women’s issues, like violence against teenaged girls, should not be siloed into trivial media subcategories.
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Thanks for bringing this to our attention! It is so typical for domestic violence to be labeled a “women’s issue” and then shuffled along to the style section. It’s a great piece and deserves better.
I too am angry and was appalled this morning when I saw this article in the Styles section. I skim headlines first, and also noted the other two front page articles in the Styles section; one in red letters titled, “Two Words for Fall: Toughen Up” and the other “Shes’ Pumped. Your Turn” that has a photograph of First Lady Obama’s torso, with her head cut off, focusing on her arms. Coincidence? or are people at the Times sending more messages then they realize about what they think of women? As a public health nurse I am very aware of the physical, mental and emotional issues women and girls struggle with from intimacy violence. This does not belong in the Styles section. I’d call it a display of poor journalistic standards. It could have been the cover of the New York Post.
I could not agree more! I think it’s outrageous that such an important article would be squeezed into the Style section, of all places – shame on the NY Times! Thanks so much for bringing attention to this; I’m going to write a letter to the editor and encourage others to do the same!