Editor’s Note: Alan Sorrentino, of Barrington R.I., wrote a letter to the local newspaper, saying women over a certain age should not wear yoga pants out in public. His letter prompted more than 300 women wearing yoga pants outside his home. This is a response from Jillian Blanco ’19, who grew up in the area.
Dear Mr. Alan Sorrentino,
After reading your “letter to the editor” for the Barrington Times, I have a lot of questions and comments. Firstly, if you meant for this letter to be a joke, you are far from right. I’m not sure you understood just how offensive and hurtful your words were. As you so eloquently put it: “not since the mini-skirt has there been something worn by so many women who should never have it on in the first place.” Who are you to judge people for wearing something they feel comfortable and good in? In our current society, whether you like it or not, yoga pants have become a staple in fashion. Whether it be in a workout setting, or a casual one, they are worn by a vast number of women. On behalf of all the women that your article offended, we want you to understand that the words you wrote were extremely distasteful and just plain awful. That being said, this letter is not written with the intent to attack or bully you in anyway, but it is written to help you recognize the bigger issue you have touched upon. All throughout history, women have had to struggle with prejudices against them. Even in the 21st century, in our daily lives, misogynistic actions and comments constantly surround us. Although we have made strides in our mission to gain full equality, comments like the ones you have made, remind us that we still have so far to go. I hope this letter will cause you to take a step back and reevaluate the things that you have said. I also hope that you will remember that although you may have wrote your letter as a joke, our lives and the way we choose to live it isn’t one.
Sincerely,
The entire female population
