DEIRDRE MURPHY,
Sir, - I ran in the Women's Mini-Marathon on Monday in Dublin and it was a thoroughly enjoyable and worthwhile event that raised money and awareness for many good causes. The participants also got a little fitter and healthier.
What I find so disappointing year after year with this event is the coverage it receives. A certain number of men will always dress up in skirts, slap on make-up and join in - and let them at it. But why does the coverage always go for the cheap laugh of a man in drag (your front-page picture on Tuesday) over the wonderful sight of all these women together (page 3)?
Once again The Man is the centre and women are pushed to the sidelines.
The Irish Times is not alone in this: all the coverage I saw was weighted towards the men in drag. Your front page was insulting to the 40,000 women who took part; their efforts were sidelined. - Yours, etc.,
DEIRDRE MURPHY,
South Dock Street,
Ringsend,
Dublin 4.
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Sir, Am I the only woman in Ireland who found your front-page picture of "fun-runners" at the Women's Mini-Marathon to be extraordinarily derogatory towards my gender? Sure hope not! - Yours, etc.,
MARY P. WILKINSON,
Boleybeg,
Barna,
Co Galway.