I've been pretty vocal about the press's tendency to call women candidates for office by their first names rather than their last.
However! VP Kamala Harris has been branding just using her first name for a long time now, so I shall refrain from criticism.
And The Youths are excited about her candidacy in a way they weren't for Biden's and I think it's smart to capitalize on that by fostering an image of familiarity.
@aleen I go out of my way to call her (and other candidates) by either their last name or their first and last name. But I agree there's value in the first-name-only branding. "Bernie" is pretty effective, and "Kamala" is even more evocative of just one person for most people.
(And I hope you're right about The Youths. I'm excited about her candidacy in a way I didn't think I would be until it was real.)
@aleen The branding is a good point. I like to use first names when they are unique and more obvious than a last name alone. Examples: Hillary, LeBron. I think you're right to call out the press if they aren't consistent about this, and broadly there's probably some sexism there, but also I view it as a sign of respect. "You are the most famous person named Kamala!"
@aleen With an original name like Kamala, I would promote it too.
I agree with your statement. There is always a double standard when there shouldn’t be.
@aleen Both Hillary and Kamala branded themselves that way. I really feel good about them doing it! More personal. Biden is Joe. Obama was Obama - mostly by choice as well. (as I remember reading).
I also remember this article in 2016 - and Hills coming out after it and saying "Hillary or Hills...I'm the same person!"
@aleen Depends on the context, too. The use of "Bernie" and "Beto" were all over those campaigns, too. It certainly leaked into how the press referred to them.
I think the objectionable way would be if using first name in a run of references along with everyone else by last name, but otherwise...
@linnefaulk Kamala is a very common name (variants: Kamla, Kamal, Kanwal—dependent upon the region in India and mother tongue); it means lotus.
@aleen that's interesting.
There was a thing in the UK where people used to refer to Boris Johnson as just 'Boris'
However, people told each other off on left-wing social media for just using his first name on the basis that 'he's not your mate', or 'some bloke down the pub' and referring to him as 'Boris' was endorsing that bit of branding....especially since it wasn't his actual first name.