Dealing with Disrespect

Last week, I heard about an article, and I wanted, or rather needed, to discuss it. Particularly in a predominantly male field which most of S.T.E.M. is, the amount of disrespect and sexism that women have to deal with is shocking and reprehensible. Seeing articles like this one truly disgusts me, and, for a young girl, I can only imagine how much it affects her mindset, especially while thinking of going into a field like S.T.E.M.

In my mind, I would rather not give the article any more views or press, so I am not going to mention the author's name, the title, nor the publisher. However, if you have not heard about what I am referring to, the basic premise of the article was that Dr. Jill Biden should give up her "Doctor" title because of his opinion and a so-called "wise man's" opinion that the title is reserved for medical doctors. On top of that, he called her "kiddo" and made many other childish, condescending remarks to Dr. Biden, all while bashing her doctoral thesis as well. Fortunately, the backlash against him and the publisher was widespread and immediate, but there was something that deeply astonished me. How, in the year 2020, are such sexist, deplorable articles still being given a platform?

Sure, it may be an "opinion," but these articles contribute to an already hostile environment for many women in the workplace. In one study of introductions of doctors (MDs & PhDs) at presentations in academic hospitals, female introducers almost always introduced the speaker by the correct title, regardless of gender. Male introducers introduced men as "Doctor" 71% of the time & women 47% of the time. So, yes, this article and the people whose viewpoints are reinforced by it do have real ramifications in the world.

Additionally, to further support my argument with some historical background, the etymology of the word "doctor" is derived from the Latin root docēre, which means to teach. The utilization of "doctor" as a medical title even started after its use in education. Simply put, the purpose of the word "doctor" is to indicate a certain high level of education achieved by one in a particular discipline. Any discipline.

Dr. Jill Biden said it best, "Together, we will build a world where the accomplishments of our daughters will be celebrated, rather than diminished."

Unfortunately, this article proves that we still have a long way to go in the fight for equality or even basic human decency towards women. Learning about self-promotion and developing confidence are useful and necessary skills, but, at the end of the day, women deserve respect in the workplace, regardless of these skills. Together, I do strongly believe that we will reach this point, but it will take work.