"First woman prime minister"

[HeyJo]

I've heard this a few times on various news programmes (including an interview with D. Cameron). I've found myself hollering "female" at the telly - am I right?

[StealthPolarBear]

I don't know. But I do know first should be "only", and it also extends to party leader

[StealthPolarBear]

They say "first" as though there have been a few since, as though it has become normal. It's as remarkable then as it is now,

[Accentuatethepositive]

I've been wondering about this too. Surely Cameron is a male pm, not a 'man pm'? So therefore should be female? If anyone can confirm what the correct usage is I'd be v interested.

[SconeRhymesWithGone]

I think that "female" sounds better in this context, but there is nothing wrong grammatically with using "woman." In English, nouns are used as adjectives all the time; it?s just that ?man? is not commonly one of them.

[HeyJo]

I suppose it's that 'man' isn't really used in this way that makes it seem a bit wrong. I also hate the phrase 'lady doctor' for some unknown reason!

In a way it's quite nice that they say 'first' as it implies there are more to come...

[WillieWaggledagger]

yes, i see the 'first' part as an optimistic stance (if possibly misleading)

like the french calling the second world war 'seconde' rather than 'deuxième' because 'seconde' implies second and final.

[stealthsquiggle]

Female sounds right to me. I had to correct DS from 'lady' though

I always want to point out that she was the UK's first female prime minister - there had been plenty elsewhere.

[Rosesforrosie]

I also dislike 'Lady' Doctor, because my grandparents use that term and also fully reject the idea that men and women do the same medical training. To them, the 'lady' doctor is a less qualified doctor.

In reference to Mrs. Thatcher- 'Female' is correct to my ears.