I was wondering if Melanchton was posting tongue-in-cheek because the nyt's sudden concern for 'third world' women is almost insulting.  Of course, it is assumed that US women are 'exceptionally' fine, as it is and need not be included, but also

1.  It's promoted/paid/marketing for "Care", a multi-prong NGO that had questionable policies and strange funding connections years ago.

2.  It promotes the authors' new book.

3.  Gives the nyt a do-gooder image for all the sunday-only readers.