Enough with the 'Mrs May'!

[Cherryskypie]

I don't remember lots of 'Mr Cameron' or 'Mr Brown' being thrown around. Theresa May, May or the Prime Minister are all fine but please don't reduce the leader of the fecking country to her marital status.

[ItsJustNotRight]

No it's not right, there are so many far more apt names for her.

[mrschatty]

I agree

[BeyondASpecialSnowflake]

Just May is fine. Like just Cameron, just Blair, just Obama, etc
No need for the mrs

(It gets a tad more difficult with Hilary Clinton, but at least she's called Hillary rather than Mrs)

[hamble123]

Why not?

Margaret Thatcher was always known in the media as "Mrs Thatcher" (although sometimes as the "Iron Lady"

[EdmundCleverClogs]

I usually let these things slide, but yes it's very unnecessary. It's very undermining and 'let's make her Thatcher Mark 2, regardless of her politics'. I'm no fan of hers by any means, but it's more than about personal preference.

[Cherryskypie]

Yes, Thatcher was, in the 1980s. Hopefully we've moved on a little from then.

[Cherryskypie]

I'm no fan either but it is deeply annoying to see it, even in newspaper headlines!

[chilipepper20]

I remember a lot of Mr. Cameron.

[butterfliesandzebras]

YANBU. So many people are perfectly happy to say 'Cameron' 'Blair' etc, but then seen incapable of just saying 'May'. Strange and sexist.

[TaterTots]

I completely agree it's ridiculous - although I don't think it's 'reducing her to her marital status'. I think it's more a kind of outdated over-reverence; as if women must be treated in a gentlemanly fashion, have their chair pulled out for them etc. because they're delicate little flowers. I think if she was unmarried she'd be referred to as 'Miss May' (or 'Ms') instead. Which would be equally pathetic.

[dybil]

I agree in principle, although you would sometimes see 'Mr.Cameron' being used, the convention is to simply use the last name.

However, is 'May' perhaps a slightly unfortunate name to do this with, given its other meanings/uses ? Particularly in newspaper headlines which are all in uppercase?

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

Perhaps it's her preferance

[Blerg]

I agree - it irritates me and also when applied to Thatcher.

You did sometimes hear Mr Cameron, but far less.

[BishopBrennansArse]

I'll just stick to 'smug witch' then.

[lostincumbria]

Depends what you read.
The Guardian uses Theresa May, the prime minister then May.
Daily Mail and Telegeaph use Theresa May, the prime minister, then Mrs May.
You pays your money...

[engineersthumb]

I seem to recall Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg being used all the time. Perhaps I hear it less as I'm male. Without starting a storm why is a gender/marital status specific term of address considered a slight?

[Cherryskypie]

In work people tend to be Firstname or Firstname Surname. Calling her Mrs May when they would have used David Cameron is treating her differently. It reminds me of the kind of gold club that always insists on calling women 'ladies' while also restricting the hours they're allowed to play.

[TheFallenMadonna]

Mr Cameron was used routinely by the BBC.
eg this report deals with them both pretty even handedly.

[cookiefiend]

YANBU- can't stand her, but makes me mad that she is treated differently. Yes Cameron was occasionally called Mr Cameron, but not constantly in the demeaning way it is done for TM.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

YY, annoys me too.

Never seen 'Mr Cameron' to the degree it's always 'Mrs May'.

[TheFallenMadonna]

And [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36778350 this one]]

Mr Cameron and Mr Milligan, all the way through.

[TheFallenMadonna]

Milliband!!

[TheFallenMadonna]

proper link

Really, littered with "Mr"

[Cherryskypie]

I'm not saying it's never used for male politicians. I'm saying it's used a lot more for Theresa May now she's PM than it was for the men or for herself when she was just a minister - which is odd

[TheFallenMadonna]

Well, I disagree with respect to the BBC, who do routinely use a title, as the links show. I don't read newspapers as often, so maybe there? Or do you mean in everyday conversations?