Response to Brown

I realize that Laura Brown’s letter in the August 31 issue was written to encourage incoming frosh to explore resources such as the fitness center, but I can’t let one of her comments in that letter go by without a response. Her comment, “The Fitness Center’s collection of Ellipticals and weight machines rivals that of any local 24-Hour Fitness, but without the fees or the sweaty middle-aged women,” was sexist, age-discriminatory, and hurtful. I would remind Ms. Brown that anyone who uses the fitness center correctly will get sweaty, and that includes middle-aged men as well as young male and female students. To insinuate that sweaty middle-aged women (which could include Ms. Brown’s mother) are an annoyance that should be avoided is insulting.

Remember this, Laura, one of these days (and trust me, it will be here sooner than you realize) you will look in the mirror—maybe after working out—and find a sweaty middle-aged woman staring back at you. Then you will have to look squarely at what time, child-bearing, and even child-rearing have done to your body. When that happens to you, you will realize fully how a comment like yours can makes those of us who are middle-age and perspire after physical exertion feel. I will tell you that in spite of attitudes like this I am proud to have reached this fabulous phase of life, and that I intend to keep on sweating at the fitness center whether I’m an annoyance or not.