Dear DU: Here is a teeny-tiny thing you can do to fight subconscious everyday misogyny.

[DetlefK]

Here is a list of names. What do you think?
Bush, Obama, Biden, Hillary, Trump, Kamala, Schumer, Nancy

Have you noticed? We have normalized that women are refered to by their first-name but men by their last-name.

Why?

Addressing someone by their last-name is considered respectful, so why do we go out of our way to NOT refer to female politicans by their last name?



Do the right thing. Be respectful.

[Skittles]

1. to be fair, Hillary is often used to distinguish her from Bill

I have referred to VP Harris, now she is Harris. And I see Pelosi referenced quite often.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. That is true. A last name adds gravitas.

Seriousness of purpose.

What you will do for husband-wife duos? Clinton's in other words. Both are Clinton. But if you say Hillary we all know who it is. If you say Bill it could be hundreds of politicians and every Tom, Dick, and Harry too.

[tavernier]

3. I call him Rump

But it’s not out of respect.

[Harker]

16. I stick with Trumpsky.

[Irish_Dem]

4. I strongly disagree.

It is obvious that we use the word Hillary to distinguish her from her husband Bill Clinton.
It is a practical decision.

And we call Kamala by her first name because we feel a close emotional bond with her.
Just like we refer to Joe Biden by his first name, Joe.

PS My entire life I have tried to do the right thing.
I don't need lectures about it.

[Xavier Breath]

20. Spot on.

[mercuryblues]

5. HRC

[ratchiweenie]

6. Yes, HRC would work.

In one of my posts where I was complaining about them not speaking out I did use Harris but when it came to Hillary I had to stop and think because I had already used Clinton so I used Hillary. So yes, HRC works for me.

[GiqueCee]

7. Good point... nt

[moniss]

8. I would strongly disagree that addressing someone

by just their last name is somehow bestowing respect. Maybe it depends on the era in which someone grew up but in my era simply calling someone by their last name could be seen as disrespectful unless it was accompanied by Mr., Mrs. or Miss in front of it. Likewise referring to people by their first name alone was not thought of too much one way or the other and using it was about familiarity and thought of more so as being informal as to formal.

I came from a time when people were taught how to address each other and how to refer to people in conversation or writing. Obviously I have become a shell of that person since falling in with the heathens years ago and having enjoyed the experience so much I never left.

[DeepWinter]

10. Thank you

Same here.

[DeepWinter]

9. I don't feel the same

I find it more humanizing to call someone by their first name. I call most women by their first name out of respect.

People I have no relationship with I think then I default to their last name. Because I don't care. They're nothing to me. Just a name.

[dflprincess]

11. In Minnesota we tend to call all our politicians by their first name

At least among those of us active in the party.

[Gore1FL]

12. Bernie? Secretary Pete?

If people campaign on their first names, that's on them.

[MLAA]

13. I agree.

[Shrek]

14. I've always said "Harris" and "Pelosi"

I sometimes say "Hillary" but only because she shares a last name with the former President.

[niyad]

15. We all know that I am one of the first to point out misogyny wherever,

and whoever. But something to consider here. It depends on who I am talking to as to whether I use first names, last names, or full titles. Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Former Secretary Clinton. Former VP Harris, etc., when I want to make a point (or smack a magat). To many of us, Hillary, Nancy and Kamala feel like sisters. And I never use chimpy or TRAITOR**'s actual names. And then we have SecPete.

[Mossfern]

17. I ran for public office

The "other side" , at the last minute put up someone with the same last name to run against me (a guy).
They were hoping to confuse people and to water down any votes for the name - they didn't really want him to win, just for me not to.

I changed all my signs and correspondences to my first name in large letters and my last name in smaller letters. It worked, and residents felt I was more relatable because of the hominess in using my first name.
Served two terms before I retired from politics having accomplished my main goal on a certain issue.

It had nothing to do with misogyny.

[Ms. Toad]

18. I use the names they use for themselves out of respect.

Naming is very personal, and women ought to be able to choose how others refer to them.

[mcar]

19. A good reminder, thanks.