Reading the Names section Friday (“Costume designer takes pride in look of ‘Proud Mary’ ’’), I found it suddenly anachronistic to suggest that media consumers should interpret the high heels and pink lipstick worn by Taraji P. Henson’s character in “Proud Mary’’ as screaming “badass.’’ What? As if anyone wearing stilettos could outrun an attacker, for one thing.

As of this week/year/generation, dominating a room and conveying power with no makeup or high heels (a la Frances McDormand at the Golden Globes) — that is the real badassery.

Michelle Martin Deininger

Cohasset