The sexism in that phrase does shine brightly in the glare of a quarter century's hindsight, but after reading the linked comment, I think we can safely solve t

The sexism in that phrase does shine brightly in the glare of a quarter century's hindsight, but after reading the linked comment, I think we can safely solve the problem by moving the adjective: a "hysterical letter from a female reader" seems like a fair description.