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New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat, criticized Republican West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin after he failed to use her official title and referred to her as a "young lady" in an interview.
Writing on Twitter, Ocasio-Cortez said Manchin's remarks are emblematic of the sexism she has faced as a member of Congress.
She wrote:
"In Washington, I usually know my questions of power are getting somewhere when the powerful stop referring to me as 'Congresswoman' and start referring to me as 'young lady' instead."
"Imagine if every time someone referred to someone as 'young lady' they were ask responded to by being addressed with their age and gender?"
"They'd be pretty upset if one responded with 'the old man,' right?"
"Why this kind of weird, patronizing behavior is so accepted is beyond me!"
Imagine if every time someone referred to someone as \u201cyoung lady\u201d they were ask responded to by being addressed with their age and gender? They\u2019d be pretty upset if one responded with \u201cthe old man,\u201d right? Why this kind of weird, patronizing behavior is so accepted is beyond me!— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1631496947
Ocasio-Cortez never referred to Manchin by name, but she didn't have to.
Her comments referred to remarks Manchin made during an interview with CNN after he was asked to respond to criticisms from Ocasio-Cortez he is beholden to energy companies.
Ocasio-Cortez had accused Manchin of holding up passage of a $3.5 trillion spending bill Democrats are looking to pass this fall as part of an effort to codify President Joe Biden's economic agenda.
Manchin called Ocasio-Cortez's remarks "totally false."
Then he referred to her as "young lady" rather than "Congresswoman."
"Those type of superlatives, it's just awful. Continue to divide, divide, divide. I don't know the young lady that well."
"I met her one time, between sets here, but that's it. We have not had any conversations."
"She is just speculating and saying things because she wants to."
Many women concurred with Ocasio-Cortez and her assessment, saying they experienced similar patronizing behavior while at work.
I had an old coworker who habitually mispronounced my first name, I must have corrected him 100 times. Finally, I just started calling him \u201cStev\u201d, he corrected me saying his name is Steve. I told him when he got mine right, I\u2019d get his right\u2026it\u2019s amazing how quickly he got it.— Zbrosmom v. 2.0 (@Zbrosmom v. 2.0) 1631497666
I do this on a regular basis. \n\nWhenever a man calls me \u201cHoney,\u201d I respond by calling him \u201cCupcake.\u201d \n\nIf they use my first name in a business setting I assume they must be fine with me using theirs. \n\nCalling anyone \u201cYoung Lady\u201d is essentially begging to be called \u201cOld Man.\u201d— Mojo Rising (@Mojo Rising) 1631497385
Had an old lawyer call me \u201choney\u201d in the courtroom once. I referred back to him as \u201csweetie pie\u201d. The look on his face was priceless . He seemed so confused until I loudly explained that since he was calling me honey, I thought we had reached that point in our relationship.— Paradox81 (@Paradox81) 1631554158
Older women also get patronized & addressed as "young lady" - or "dear". \nIt happens to me - and I'm in my 70s.— Margaret Nielsen, PhD (@Margaret Nielsen, PhD) 1631501483
Whenever I\u2019ve heard that term in my long life, it was never intended as a kind phrase, it was always intended to remind me they had the upper hand, the power, and control. It was always demeaning.— Wendy Goodman (@Wendy Goodman) 1631512852
I was 30 y/o when a fellow we were negotiating with called me \u201clittle miss\u201d. Our team walked out of the meeting and the discussion overall. Within 3 years their financial position was so tenuous they had to sell and no longer operate - anywhere.— Janine Hron (@Janine Hron) 1631501378
I find it very offensive and they know it and that\u2019s why they say it. \nI\u2019ve never once appreciated anyone addressing me in that way\u2026not once.— It\u2019s All Political (@It\u2019s All Political) 1631580827
Agreed! During the 1970\u2019s, I was called \u201clittle girl\u201d by my boss back when I was in my 20\u2019s at Sony Corp. We called him \u201clittle Napoleon\u201d(redundant, I know) behind his 5\u20195\u201d back!— RadiantLyfe (@RadiantLyfe) 1631616103
When I worked at Starbucks in Boston, a customer called me \u2018young lady\u2019 and I responded by calling him \u2018old man.\u2019 I don\u2019t remember the context but even if it was meant endearingly, it was so condescending.— del Campo (@del Campo) 1631596002
Ocasio-Cortez has been very open about her efforts to work in what she says is a profoundly sexist institution.
She made national headlines in July 2020 after she took to the House floor to enter into the Congressional record a sexist vulgarity said to her by Florida Republican Representative Ted Yoho.
At the time, she said:
"In front of reporters, Representative Yoho called me, and I quote: 'A f'king bitch.'"
She went on to add incidents like the one she described "happen every day," and included a thinly-veiled criticism of former President Donald Trump, who was still in office at the time.
"It happens every day in this country. It happened here on the steps of our nation's Capitol."
"It happens when individuals who hold the highest office in this land admit to hurting women and using this language against all of us."
Representative Yoho denied saying the slur.