Kamala, but not Harris: Why female politicians are addressed by their first names

(NEXSTAR) — You can refer to the current president as “Biden,” the former president as “Trump,” and his predecessors as “Obama,” “Bush” and “Clinton.” But what about the Democratic presidential candidate running against Trump?

Did you immediately think of “Kamala” and not her last name “Harris”?

If so, you are not alone.

A Study 2018 found that in certain fields, including politics, both men and women are twice as likely to address men by their last name compared to women. The researchers cited the 2008 Democratic primaries as an example, where television news anchors were more likely to address then-candidate Barack Obama by his last name than Hillary Clinton by hers.

The researchers explained that the tendency to address women by their first and last names, or by their first name only, may have a variety of reasons, such as the fact that women’s last names traditionally change when they marry. “Male” is also often seen as the “assumed default” when talking about someone, so using the woman’s first name can support clarify the person’s gender (e.g., by using “Michelle” or “Michelle Obama” instead of Obama, which could be confused with her husband, Barack Obama).

This trend has been observed in various prestigious fields, including science, technology and literature. Even female doctors are twice as likely to be addressed by their first name as their male colleagues. separate study found in 2022.

While the researchers concluded that this inconsistency in the utilize or non-use of surnames could contribute to gender bias, according to one of the study’s collaborators, there may be benefits to using a woman’s first name instead of her last name.

“We know that the first name is more likely to be associated with familiarity,” said Stav Atir, who has a doctorate in social psychology from Cornell University. TODAYThis makes them appear “more accessible,” but they have a “lower status” than men, says Atir.

Using a candidate’s first name is a common campaign technique among Democrats, Ashley Etienne, a political consultant who worked on President Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign and served as communications director for Harris, told the news agency.

The slideshow below shows examples, including campaign signs for Harris and Clinton, as well as the crowd at the Democratic National Convention in August thanking President Biden with signs reading “Thank you, Joe.”

While Mirya Holman, an associate professor at the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs, points out that using a politician’s first name can be “a sign of disrespect,” she acknowledges that it could prove beneficial for Vice President Harris in this election campaign.

Talk to NPRHolman explained that referring to Harris as “Kamala” might not be a bad thing “for her and the enthusiasm of Democratic voters,” since this campaign is focused on domestic policy – parental leave, reproductive rights, climate policy – and women are often seen as having an advantage on these issues.

It could also support distinguish Harris from others, said Kelly Dittmar, an associate professor at Rutgers University’s Center for American Women and Politics. The Washington PostClinton may have leaned on “Hillary” to more deliberately distance herself from her husband, President Bill Clinton, but for Harris, “it gives her something to lean on in terms of her own identity.”

Mispronunciation of KamalaHowever, according to Holman, this can be a sign of disrespect.

Not every politician is addressed exclusively by her first name. Consider the female lawmakers pictured in the slideshow below.

Among them are Speaker Emeritus of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia), and former Representative Liz Cheney – all women in the political sphere who you’ve most likely heard mentioned by their full names. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) could also be included on this list, although she’s most often referred to by her nickname, AOC.

There are also men who are addressed by their first names, such as Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), known as “Bernie,” and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, sometimes called “Ike.”

Alternatively, some women in politics are more often addressed by their last name or their full name. Axios reportsFormer Republican presidential candidate and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is more commonly referred to as “Haley.” South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer are also commonly referred to by their last names.

While experts say mentioning a female presidential candidate – or an influential woman in any field, from health care to science to literature – can diminish their reputation and widen the gender gap, Harris’ campaign team is not afraid to utilize “Kamala” and her first name on T-ShirtsSigns and Social Media.

However, when it comes to her vice president, it is Walznot Tim.