The power of last names

There has been a debate on a Norwegian feminist mailing-list lately on why powerful women in Norway are portrayed in the news by their first names, while men always are known by their last names. Many has suggested that this has to do with power.

Today day the schools finalist are sitting their Norwegian language exam and the other pupils have the day off. All the teachers have been allocated things to do to make the exam run smoothly. On the list of what to do every one is written down with their first name - all at our school, including the head mistress, use their first name - except me. I am K. Brorson. The one with the least seniority are the only one known by her last name. An upside down power relation.

Comments

[karin]

congrats med ny jobb! kanskje jeg ikke burde kommentere på norsk, og dermed fremmedgjøre leserskaren din - men det føles mest naturlig. så deg også i filologen, bra. kom på manifest fredag i kveld, det blir foredrag om Situasjonistisk Internasjonale og avantgarden!

[URSUS]

Your name K.Brorson may be an expression for dignified attitudes.