Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

Here.

To the Editor:

Re “Men’s Lib!” (Sunday Review, Nov. 15):

Congratulations to Richard V. Reeves and Isabel V. Sawhill for a balanced and hopeful article. Societally imposed gender stereotypes shackle both men and women, boys and girls. The writers’ conviction that public policies can hasten the acceptance of more divergent gender roles is heartening.

But despite distinct progress in some areas over the last few decades, I have been dismayed to see a resurgence of gender stereotypes in recent years. Witness the “princess” obsession of little girls and their parents.

Despite the superficial efforts of mass marketers to coat some princesses in a veneer of empowerment, the tale usually ends with the princess finding a prince and thus “marrying up,” garnering the improved economic and social status that a man presumably confers.

Let’s see more stories of princes “marrying up”!

MARIE J. HAWE

Stamford, Conn.

The writer is a social worker.

Note from KBJ: Marie J. Hawe, meet biology.

Best. Onion rings. Ever. Pappadeaux. Click to enlarge.

Funny story. Yesterday afternoon, Katherine and I were in a Starbucks coffee shop in a northern suburb of DFW awaiting our beverages. A man came in wearing a Kiss T-shirt. He may have been a few years younger than I am (58). After he picked up his drink, I motioned to him to come to my table. As he approached, probably puzzled, I leaned forward to whisper, "Have you seen Kiss in concert?" He smiled and replied, "Several times." I grinned and said, "I've seen them seven times." He laughed. I added, by way of explanation: "I grew up in rural Michigan; Kiss practically lived in Michigan; they played Detroit, Flint, and Saginaw all the time." I couldn't resist asking a rhetorical question: "If someone had told you back in 1974, when Kiss burst onto the national scene, that they'd still be playing in full makeup 41 years later, what would you have said?" He laughed again and held up his closed fist for a fist bump. As he walked out, he said, "Take care, brother." Kiss bonding. This is for you, bro.

Here.

Here.

To the Editor:

Nicholas Kristof says “universities should work harder to make all students feel they are safe and belong.” Nonsense. Such sloppy sentimentality underscores the misdirection of many of our universities and undermines the values that define adult education. No student at an American university should be “safe” from ideas, be they noxious or untrue.

Higher education is “higher” precisely because the best teachers take very great risks in challenging ideas that seem self-evident, even the risk of changing minds. As for belonging, all students were admitted and by definition belong.

Safe from violence, yes. Everything else is up for debate.

RICHARD PARKINSON

Provo, Utah

I'll settle for Donald Trump or Ben Carson, but Ted Cruz is my man.

Here are the latest rankings. My beloved Arizona Wildcats (6-6) lost to archrival Arizona State yesterday. The Cats are bowl eligible, but should probably stay home because of their mediocre season.

Untitled (1992). Vastly underrated.