Why Kamala Harris is Kamala and Donald Trump is Trump: Man calls out subtle misogyny that seeps into language & naming
Adam Aleksic highlights a gender bias in how we refer to public figures, noting that men are often addressed by their last names, signaling higher status, while women are commonly referred to by their first names, reflecting underlying societal biases.
As the countdown to the US Presidential elections begins, all eyes are on the November showdown. In one corner, we have Kamala Harris of the Democratic Party, and in the other, Donald Trump representing the Republicans.
While Kamala seems to be 'meme-ing' her way to Presidency, Trump is 'fisting' on toward a win.
In the midst of this presidential race, a content creator has noted an intriguing point: Why do we call Kamala and Hillary by their first names, while Obama, Biden, and Trump are referred to by their last names?
Aleksic notes, "You know how we call Kamala and Hillary by their first names but Obama, Biden, and Trump by their last names?"
Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton
He explains that this isn't just a quirk or a coincidence but a reflection of deeper societal biases.
"Studies have shown people are twice as likely to use last names when referring to men than when referring to women," he says, pointing out that last names are often associated with higher status or those perceived as "more important."
He supports this with examples from academia, where professors are seen as more prestigious when addressed by their last names "and yet students on RateMyProfessor are way more likely to call their male professors by their last names than their female professors."
He also provides examples from the medical field, where male doctors are more frequently called 'Doctor' compared to their female counterparts.
In professional sports too, he notes, we refer to stars like Djokovic and Federer by their last names, while female athletes are often called by their first names, like Serena and Billie Jean.
Roger Federer. Serena Williams
Aleksic also criticises the use of gendered language in sports media, where female athletes are referred to as "girls" or "ladies," a term seldom used for men.
He points out that this language "trivialises or inflatilises female athletes."
Watch the video here:
"Another instance of misogyny seeping itself deep within the vernacular used to refer to women," as one commenter put it.
What's your take on this?
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Srishti B Dutta brings you everything from rags-to-riches tales and inspiring student success stories to those "No way, this can't be real!" moments. Whether it's intriguing, heartwarming, or just plain quirky, she's got it covered.
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