The, that woman

If I hear one more talking head on television speak of Christine Blasey Ford as “the woman” or “that woman,” I will have to say something about it. And now I will. “The woman” or “that woman”— no longer anonymous — has a name, just as Brett Kavanaugh does. Her name is Christine Blasey Ford. Her university webpage identifies her as Christine Blasey. Thus, Dr. Blasey, or Ms. Blasey.

There is more than a touch of misogynist condescension in “the woman” and “that woman.” Remember Bill Clinton’s “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky”?