When gender sensitivity goes awry....

From The New York Times "City Room" blog:

Although it would seem likely that Senator Clinton might capture the lioness’s share of voters in her stronghold state....

OK, so it might seem weird at first blush to award Mrs. Clinton the "lion's" share, but the whole point of the idiom is that the lion, who hasn't done much in the way of hunting, gets first pick at the carcass and the largest portion, while the lioness, who has actually felled the prey, has to wait for the leftovers.

Or maybe the Times is subtly trying to say that they expect Sen. Obama to win New York even though Sen. Clinton deserves it....

ETA: I posted the same comment on the blog entry there, and they have now changed the wording to "... capture the larger share ..." (12:36pm)

When gender sensitivity goes awry....

From The New York Times "City Room" blog:

Although it would seem likely that Senator Clinton might capture the lioness’s share of voters in her stronghold state....

OK, so it might seem weird at first blush to award Mrs. Clinton the "lion's" share, but the whole point of the idiom is that the lion, who hasn't done much in the way of hunting, gets first pick at the carcass and the largest portion, while the lioness, who has actually felled the prey, has to wait for the leftovers.

Or maybe the Times is subtly trying to say that they expect Sen. Obama to win New York even though Sen. Clinton deserves it....

ETA: I posted the same comment on the blog entry there, and they have now changed the wording to "... capture the larger share ..." (12:36pm)