At the New York Times' website and in articles, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, JD, and former presidential candidate is referred to as Mrs. Clinton. At the same site, citizen, former Governor and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is referred to as Ms. Palin.
Why is Clinton a Mrs.? And Palin is a Ms.? Both took the name of their husband when they married, and both are still married to same husband. So, is Ms. now reserved for women who'd rather their marital status not be on display AND women who are more well-known than their husbands? If I were more creative I might have an answer. Instead, it's Sunday night, and I'm just pissed.
Maybe you can explain this to me?
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NYTimes uses an unusual system among newspapers it seems. They go simply based on what the individual in question prefers (presumably when known). Ms. Palin prefers the Ms., Mrs. Clinton the Mrs. See link: http://the-f-word.org/blog/index.php/2008/09/30/mrs-clinton-vs-ms-palin/
ReplyDeleteCorrection: that link does not necessarily mean that Palin has stated a preference (though the linked blogger made the same mistake I did). Evidently the NYTimes uses Ms. when the individual's preference is unknown or stated as Ms. From that link (and the link through to Corbett's Q & A) we only know that Clinton prefers Mrs. (Palin may prefer Ms. or not have indicated a preference.)
ReplyDeleteWell look at that! And I thought last night, oh the ol' Grey Lady surely doesn't give women a choice. I should not have doubted a New Englander form of journalism, tsk tsk.
ReplyDeleteYep, aren't you glad that you got to experience New England for many years?
ReplyDelete