The macho article that ridicules Jill Biden for using her title of 'Doctor' on social networks
Thousands of people have reacted against Joseph Epstein's column, which criticizes the first lady for referring to herself as "Doctor."
She has not yet reached the White House, but Jill Biden, wife of Joe Biden and soon to be first lady, is already beginning to see the consequences of being in the forefront of the media eye. This Friday, writer and essayist Joseph Epstein dedicated her opinion column in the Wall Street Journal in which he ridiculed her for referring to herself as a Doctor on social media, a title she earned in 2007.
The misogyny of the article, titled Is There a Doctor in the White House? No, if you need a doctor, it quickly generated a lot of controversy and there were many who showed their support for Jill Biden, and all the women who do not hesitate to make use of her higher titles.
"Mrs. Biden —Jill—: a little advice on what may seem small, but which I think is not a trivial matter. Is there any chance that I will stop using the" Dr. "before your name?" . Jill Biden "sounds and feels fraudulent, not to say a bit comical." This is how Epstein began his text, in which he repeatedly urged her not to use her Doctor of Education degree which, according to him, she obtained "through a dissertation with the unpromising title: Student Retention at the Community College Level: meet the needs of students. "
"A wise man once said that no one should call themselves 'Dr.' unless they have given birth to a child. Think about it, Dr. Jill, and immediately drop the paper," he maintains in the first paragraph.
To 'justify' the idea that the first lady should not use your degree, achieved after two masters and years of research, Epstein, who admits that he only has a bachelor's degree, affirms that in recent years the prestige "that once has had a Ph.D. has been diminished by the erosion of seriousness and the loosening of standards in general college education, at least outside of the sciences. "
Furthermore, he adds that currently calling himself a Dr. in the Social Sciences and Humanities is "in a lower league."
The reason for the rain of criticism of Epstein is because his column could have been a criticism of the devaluation of the demand for access to the doctorate or, in general, to those who call themselves 'doctors' without being doctors. But he decided to direct her exclusively to Jill Biden, ridiculing her and even calling her 'Dr. Jill 'in a macho and paternalistic way.
Thousands of reactions
Although Dr. Biden, who has played a key role in Joe Biden's campaign and who also wants to keep her job as a teacher outside the White House, has not responded to the writer's lunge, thousands of people did, including that highlight relevant figures.
Bernice King, the youngest of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. recalled that her father "was a non-medical doctor" and "his work greatly benefited humanity." "Yours too," she pointed out.
Dear @DrBiden: My father was a non-medical doctor. And his work benefited humanity greatly. Yours does, too. pic.twitter.com/LD8eBt6ew2
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) December 13, 2020
Doug Emhoff, attorney and husband to Vice President Kamala Harris wrote on Twitter: "Dr. Biden earned her degrees because of her hard work and determination. She is an inspiration to me, her students, and Americans across the country. This history would never have been written about a man. "
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. pic.twitter.com/mverJiOsxC
— Doug Emhoff (@DouglasEmhoff) December 12, 2020
Meghan McCain, daughter of the late Senator John McCain, showed her fed up with "the way that skilled, educated, and successful women like Dr. Biden are
commented on in the media by misogynistic men. "
I am so sick of the way accomplished, educated, successful women like @DrBiden are talked about in the media by misogynistic men. BEYOND SO SICK OF IT. https://t.co/7zNJiY4SUl
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) December 12, 2020
Northwestern University, where the writer taught for years, issued a statement showing its "complete disagreement with Mr. Epstein's misogynistic views."
It appears Northwestern University's English Department has removed Joseph Epstein's profile from its website.
— David Gura (@davidgura) December 13, 2020
Earlier today, he was listed as an "emeritus lecturer." pic.twitter.com/XBZI8ZbN1B
Some people cited the column on Epstein's "envy" of Jill Biden's title, while others noted that many women and members of minority groups often choose to use their academic titles "to insist that people not overlook his true credentials. "
All those #JosephEpstein out there pic.twitter.com/uDxkdVaQY4
— Dr. Sandra Galindo (@sangaPhD) December 13, 2020
Joe, kiddo. I got my PhD when 2 ancient & 2 mod langs were required & 10y of bowing & scraping to men like you. So I use my title. Sure, It’s not for BAs like you mistaken for MDs, but for ppl like me & Dr. Biden who are mistaken for housewives. https://t.co/0Qq1wBWFij
— Virginia Heffernan (@page88) December 12, 2020
#JosephEpstein has only an BA but he is obviously envious of women that have obtained a PhD. It takes hard work to get a PHD, I know it! Women should be proud of their achievements and never pay attention to the opinions of a small man like Epstein. pic.twitter.com/32h3moHQxP
— Pauline (@pauline_10_7) December 12, 2020
Others have directly changed their profiles on social networks highlighting their titles or, directly, as naming Epstein in response.
The BBC also recalled that Jill Biden is not the first to use her title of "non-medical doctor" on social networks. "Figures from other administrations have used the title include Henry Kissinger, who served as secretary of state under Presidents Nixon and Ford, and Sebastian Gorka, a former assistant to President Donald Trump." And, about none of them was written anything.
