Don’t call female politicians by their first name – it’s SEXIST, blasts minister

The equal rights campaigner said women in politics were often “presumed incompetent” and judged on the basis of their appearance by their male peers.

Mrs Schiappa was asked by France Info radio to comment on a video clip in which conservative economy minister Bruno Le Maire can be heard referring to his junior minister Delphine Gény-Stéphann only as “Delphine” during a transfer of power ceremony which aired on state TV.

Mrs Gény-Stéphann, 49, a former high-ranking finance ministry official and entrepreneur, replaced Benjamin Griveaux as secretary of state for economic affairs on Saturday after he took on the role of government spokesman.

Mr Griveaux, a close ally of Mr Macron, for his part, stepped in the shoes of Christophe Castaner, the newly elected chief executive of president Emmanuel Macron’s Republic on the Move (REM) party.

In the video clip, Mr Le Maire welcomes “Delphine” to his team twice, as he congratulates “Benjamin Griveaux” on his new position.

Mrs Schiappa told France Info: “Calling a female politician by her first name and her male counterpart by his full name amounts to everyday sexism. 

“It’s a bad habit that male politicians need to shake off.

“Female politicians are called by their first names, judged on their appearance and presumed incompetent. Their suit-clad male counterparts, for their part, are presumed competent.”

Mrs Schiappa, 35, a former blogger and women’s rights activist, has pledged alongside Mr Macron to tackle sexist male attitudes in public places thanks to a new law against sexism and sexual abuse, which is to be passed next year.