Why "Pumpkin", when we know Qian Xun Xue’s name?

Early in the investigation the unidentified toddler abandoned in a Melbourne Train station was known as “Pumpkin”, simply because she wore “Pumpkin Patch” clothing.

Even now, long after Qian Xun Xue’s real name is known, the news media still refer to her as “Pumpkin”. Not just in headlines, perhaps understandable, but also through the entire article without ever using her real name. It’s “Pumpkin”, “Pumpkin's mother Annie Liu”, “Pumpkin's father” and “Pumpkin's parents”.

Is it because she’s Asian and has a non-European name?

Would Qian Xun Xue still be “Pumpkin” if her name was, say,“Madeleine”?

Tags: Qian+Xun+Xue

Comments

[Ian]

I do agree that this nickname is being used simply because her Chinese names is too hard for mos Western readers to identify with. I am personally offended by the continued use of 'Pumpkin', and regard it as another example of the media wanting to put their own spin on a story.

[Mike Burke]

"Is it because she’s Asian and has a non-European name?" No I don't think so, although being an Asian hasn't helped I suppose. The media luv "cute" and the name pumpkin is cute, especially for a little lost girl with no name. So why stop using that name because everyone knows what you are talking about when they here the word pumpkin on the radio or TV, or read it in the papers or on the net.

And now that the story has really turned nasty with the discovery of a body that is most probably her Mum, pumpkin is going to be around for much longer than it normally would be.

sigh

Pumpkin Patch must be loving this free publicity too.