A New York Times senior opinion editor wants this woman to be wearing sweatpants.
- A New York Times senior opinion editor published an op-ed arguing that yoga pants are bad for women.
- Women overwhelmingly did not agree.
The New York Times published an op-ed slamming yoga pants - and people aren't too pleased with the publication.
On Sunday, The Times published an op-ed written by senior opinion editor Honor Jones with the headline: "Why Yoga Pants Are Bad for Women."
"We may be able to conquer the world wearing spandex," Jones wrote. "But wouldn't it be easier to do so in pants that don't threaten to show every dimple and roll in every woman over 30?"
Overwhelmingly readers responded saying, no, in fact, life without yoga pants would not be easier. In fact, most people - especially women - saw the argument as simply absurd, and they took to social media to say just that.
The crux of Jones' argument is that women wear yoga pants to be sexy, something that should not be expected of anyone while they're working out.
But women provided many other reasons to wear yoga pants and leggings - namely, that they're comfortable and practical.
"Somehow you are missing the point of how much easier it is to run, to contort, to move in any way, with pants that are streamlined," reads the top comment on The New York Times' Facebook post about the article.
While Jones frames her argument as a pro-women, feminist take, many saw the anti-yoga-pants op-ed as part of a larger trend of demonizing anything feminine.
"Yoga pants, skin care, makeup, wine, romance novels, fashion - if it's *culturally coded* as something that brings relaxation and pleasure to women, somebody is out there writing about how it's secretly insidious," NPR's Linda Holmes tweeted.
Many criticized the publication for publishing something about yoga pants instead of focusing on more pressing issues, such as gun control.
Some were simply left begging people to read something else.
As is often the case on Twitter, the yoga pants debate began to spiral in unanticipated directions - including a (debunked) conspiracy that Honor Jones wasn't even a real person.
Combing through responses on social media doesn't turn up many people willing to support Jones's argument.
Instead, people seem to agree with another Facebook comment on The Times' post: "So, how about we all just wear whatever appeals to us, and don't worry about what anyone else is wearing."
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listen, folks, we here at NYT Opinion have heard your complaints about our lack of diversity (both ideological and otherwise), our insularity, and our narcissism - and we are here to tell you that we are truly committed to explaining why older women look gross in yoga pants
- KT NELSON (@KrangTNelson) February 18, 2018why [throws a dart at a dartboard from 2011] yoga pants are [spins the adjective wheel] bad for [pulls a name from the Oppressed Groups hat] women https://t.co/t2WAPJ4t2R
- maya kosoff (@mekosoff) February 18, 2018This is an article criticizing women for wearing yoga pants to yoga class. https://t.co/5T8TFNL5qK
- Susan Arendt (@SusanArendt) February 18, 2018Has anyone written about the fact that leggings and yoga pants are important because they don't *hurt* to wear? Like, congrats if your jeans don't leave red marks on you by the end of the day, but I've never known that life.
- ✨⛸ Jaime Green 🥌✨ (@jaimealyse) February 18, 2018Why do people gotta hate on good things to be edGY? What's the point? Starbucks is good, yoga pants are comfortable, greys anatomy gets addicting, and target is full of cheap things that are adorable. You just sound like an uncomfortable, uncaffinated, bitter person
- savannah (@trauma_mama_) February 18, 2018As someone who has practiced yoga for years, it's unbelievable that you think we wear yoga pants because they're "sexy?!" We wear them because they allow us to maneuver in ways other clothing doesn't. Alternatively, seeing if you aren't in the proper position is just as important https://t.co/cy70QBWnrF
- kimmie caruba (@kimmiecaruba) February 18, 2018Can there just be one magazine called Everything Women Enjoy Is Embarrassing and you can put all your judgy-ass op-eds in there, and I'll burn it as fuel in my red lipstick factory?
- Linda Holmes (@nprmonkeysee) February 18, 2018Okay @nytimes. 1) I am sure you had your pick of thoughtful opinion pieces for this Sunday's edition...and this was your choice? 2) Women writing op-eds about other women's sartorial choices is bad for women 3) You can have my yoga pants when you pry them from my cold dead booty https://t.co/8RU9l8iVde
- Candice Adams (@TheCandiceAdams) February 18, 2018There are so many incredible books and essays in the world you'll never have time to read, please don't read a yoga pants op ed
- Anna Fitzpatrick (@bananafitz) February 18, 2018Students: we're going to destroy the NRA and end gun violence
NY Times: Yoga pants are the real devil
- melissa byrne (@mcbyrne) February 18, 2018Don't read about yoga pants today. Read Audre Lorde instead. It is our ancestor's 84 birthday today. While she is no longer with us, Lorde is still a guiding light. Take care of yourself because Lorde, who died much too young, implored us to. pic.twitter.com/5ZqadC4aEQ
- Evette Dionne (Mrs. Boseman, preferably) 🤔 (@freeblackgirl) February 18, 2018Sexy
Sex
Se
S
Sh
Shr
Shre
Shrek
Shrek i
Shrek in
Shrek in y
Shrek in yo
Shrek in yog
Shrek in yoga
Shrek in yoga p
Shrek in yoga pa
Shrek in yoga pan
Shrek in yoga pant
Shrek in yoga pants
- Roomie (RAMI) (Bahamas blue eyes) (@roomieofficial) February 16, 2018I see someone has posted yet another op-ed on the perils of wearing yoga pants after 30.
Lemme clear this up for everyone:
Wear yoga pants if you want to. If somebody doesn't like your over-30 dimpled rolls... tell them not to look. Dress for you, not for anyone else
- Kodi Kat (@puma_legal) February 18, 2018I've been collecting my thoughts all morning, and here's my take on this yoga pants thing
[a pterodactyl swoops down with a mind-piercing shriek and carries me out to sea]
- Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) February 18, 2018