A recent editorial in The Wall Street Journal stirred up a bit of controversy. In it, the author, Joseph Epstein, made a strange case for why the future first lady, Dr. Jill Biden, shouldn't use the title "Dr." Biden has a doctorate in education from the University of Delaware, and it's common practice for someone with those credentials to use the title.
The author writes that Dr. Biden's use of the title “feels fraudulent, not to say a touch comic." The backlash to the piece was quick. Many people said it was out of touch and anti-woman. The Biden transition team called the piece “sexist.” Dr. Jill Biden also took to Twitter over the weekend with a pointed response.
The piece about Dr. Jill Biden felt off-putting for a lot of reasons. Not only did the author criticize her use of her hard-earned title, he also referred to her as "kiddo." Overall, it was a condescending and strange critique of the future first lady.
Many people were quick to point out that men who have earned the title "Dr." — whether they are a medical doctor, a doctor of psychology, or a doctor of education — are not criticized in the same way. However, the author was firm in his stance. He wrote, “A wise man once said that no one should call himself ‘Dr.’ unless he has delivered a child."
The backlash to the piece made a lot of sense. While there may be plenty of political arguments to squabble over, making light of someone's credentials seems a truly bizarre place to start. After a bit of silence, Dr. Biden herself spoke out with a short and succinct response.
Over the weekend, Dr. Biden put her thoughts on social media. She wrote, "Together, we will build a world where the accomplishments of our daughters will be celebrated, rather than diminished." In one line, she spoke to the clear sexism in the piece.
Others in Biden's team spoke out. ″You and the @WSJ should be embarrassed to print the disgusting and sexist attack on @DrBiden running on the @WSJopinion page,” Biden’s spokesman, Michael LaRosa, tweeted at WSJ editorial features editor James Taranto. “If you had any respect for women at all you would remove this repugnant display of chauvinism from your paper and apologize to her.”
But the Biden team members weren't the only ones to speak out. Even Northwestern University, where Epstein had been listed as an “emeritus lecturer of English,” commented about his piece. “Northwestern is firmly committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and strongly disagrees with Mr. Epstein’s misogynistic views,” said the university, the Daily Northwestern reported. In addition, the school also removed Epstein from its website.
Just this morning, former first lady Michelle Obama shared her thoughts on the matter. On Instagram, she wrote, "For eight years, I saw Dr. Jill Biden do what a lot of professional women do—successfully manage more than one responsibility at a time, from her teaching duties to her official obligations in the White House to her roles as a mother, wife, and friend. And 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. We’re doubted by those who choose the weakness of ridicule over the strength of respect. And yet somehow, their words can stick—after decades of work, we’re forced to prove ourselves all over again."
She continued, "Is this really the example we want to set for the next generation? Dr. Biden gives us a better example. And this is why I feel so strongly that we could not ask for a better First Lady. She will be a terrific role model not just for young girls but for all of us, wearing her accomplishments with grace, good humor, and yes, pride. I’m thrilled that the world will see what I have come to know—a brilliant woman who has distinguished herself in her profession and with the life she lives every day, always seeking to lift others up, rather than tearing them down."
It's pretty unsettling that such a perspective was given a platform like The Wall Street Journal. The idea that a woman shouldn't use her hard-earned title is just a form of manipulation, aimed at diminishing Dr. Biden's accomplishments. However, it's important to realize that this opinion definitely isn't popular.
The outrageous editorial was insulting to women everywhere, yes. But the perspective that women should stand up and claim their titles is far more widely accepted. The fact that Dr. Biden responded with class in her subtle clapback seems an indication that this administration is going to be committed to acting with a lot of thoughtfulness and integrity. And that will be a welcome shift.
