Avenger of the Week | The Defenders of Dr. Jill Biden
Dr. Jill Biden
Our Avengers of the Week are the many people who spoke up on social media and elsewhere when an op-ed in the December 11th Wall Street Journal criticized Dr. Jill Biden for using the title Dr., even though she has two master’s degrees and a doctorate in education.
Hmmm… we don’t recall any similar concerns raised about Dr. Henry Kissinger, who has a doctorate in history, or Dr. Phil McGraw, who has a doctorate in clinical psychology. We know, though, that even women medical doctors often have their titles ignored. The op-ed author, Joseph Epstein, who has a bachelor’s degree and an honorary doctorate, doesn’t think those with non-medical doctoral degrees should use the term ‘Dr.’, and he said so in quite derisive terms. Epstein opened his op-ed by addressing Dr. Biden as “Madame First Lady—Mrs. Biden—Jill—kiddo,” making sure his condescension was clear before he went on to advise her to drop her well-earned title.
Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris, said on Twitter, ”Dr. Biden earned her degrees through hard work and pure grit. She is an inspiration to me, to her students, and to Americans across this country. This story would never have been written about a man.”
Dr. Felissa Luque-Gonzalez is one of many women who hold PhDs who spoke out. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from California State University at Northridge and says that her credentials have been doubted and undervalued throughout her career. “The article felt personal,” she said. “A man I worked with who has his PhD would refuse to call me doctor, but he called himself doctor.”
Former First Lady Michelle Obama weighed in on Instagram: “Right now, we’re all seeing what also happens to so many professional women, whether their titles are Dr., Ms., Mrs., or even First Lady: All too often, our accomplishments are met with skepticism, even derision.”
Even Northwestern University, where the op-ed writer taught in the past, felt compelled to make a statement: "While we firmly support academic freedom and freedom of expression, we do not agree with Mr. Epstein's opinion and believe the designation of doctor is well deserved by anyone who has earned a PhD, an EdD or an MD”. In a separate statement, the university’s English Department referred to the comments as “unmerited aspersion” and affirmed Dr. Biden’s "rightful public claiming of her doctoral credentials and expertise."
Dr. Biden herself tweeted, “Together, we will build a world where the accomplishments of our daughters will be celebrated rather than diminished.”
We salute all defenders of Dr. Jill Biden’s right to use her title as our Avengers of the Week.
Congratulate Avenger of the Week Gillian Anderson!
Who's the @GenderAvenger #AvengerOfTheWeek? It's all of you who defended @DrBiden when an op-ed writer tried to diminish her well-earned title. "The accomplishments of our daughters will be celebrated rather than diminished." —Dr. Biden 👏 #GenderAvenger https://www.genderavenger.com/blog/avenger-of-the-week-defenders-dr-jill-biden