Dear Joseph Epstein, BA – Your Time is Done

Posted byakohlhoferPosted inSocial IssuesTags:, , , , ,

Today the Wall Street Journal published an op-ed by essayist Joseph Epstein, calling for future FLOTUS, Dr. Jill Biden, to drop the “Dr.” title from her name.

Now, while I realize the Wall Street Journal is a conservative publication comprised mostly of old, sexist, and irrelevant white men, I also operated under the assumption that it was a business and financial-focused publication. Apparently there’s not enough going on in the business world though. I mean, why write about the new COVID vaccine, or the economic impact of the latest numbers of COVID deaths and unemployed Americans, when you can write about how annoyed you are that a woman with a doctoral degree actually expects to be addressed as “Doctor?”

In what can only be described as a bizarre, jealousy-ridden, and misogyny-filled piece of writing, the author calls her degree “fraudulent” and “comical” and tells her to “drop it.” He writes:

“Madame First Lady—Mrs. Biden—Jill—kiddo: a bit of advice on what may seem like a small but I think is a not unimportant matter. Any chance you might drop the “Dr.” before your name? “Dr. Jill Biden ” sounds and feels fraudulent, not to say a touch comic. Your degree is, I believe, an Ed.D., a doctor of education, earned at the University of Delaware through a dissertation with the unpromising title “Student Retention at the Community College Level: Meeting Students’ Needs.” A wise man once said that no one should call himself “Dr.” unless he has delivered a child. Think about it, Dr. Jill, and forthwith drop the doc.”

First of all, that’s a whole lot of words to say “I am intimidated by women smarter than me.” Second of all, before he has even begun to attempt to make a point, he has degraded and insulted the future FLOTUS. “Kiddo?” Seriously? I’m gonna stop you right there Joe. She is Dr. Jill Biden, soon-to-be First Lady. Give her the respect she deserves. (Also, I’m pretty convinced he originally wrote “sweetie” and then changed it to “kiddo.”) A privileged white man with no post-grad education telling a woman with a doctorate not to use her credentials. How very original of you, kiddo.

To that end, let’s list Dr. Biden’s accomplishments:

  • She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Delaware in 1975.
  • She earned a Master of Education, with a specialty in reading, from West Chester State College in 1981.
  • She earned a Master of Arts in Education from Villanova University in 1987.
  • She earned a Doctor of Education (Ed.D) in educational leadership from the University of Delaware in 2007

She accomplished all of this over the span of 32 years, all while becoming a wife, raising children, teaching at many different levels, running a non-profit, and accompanying her husband through multiple political campaigns. (And, who wants to tell him that not only has she earned all of these degrees, but she has also, in fact, delivered a child?)

Sadly, for Joseph Epstein, BA, that’s not enough to compel him to address her by the title she EARNED through years of hard work and public service. Mr. Epstein goes on to describe how he has taught at the collegiate level without any advanced degree. He received an honorary doctorate from a professor who was subsequently fired. He goes on to say how he was referred to as “Dr.” often over the years (but somehow never never managed to correct those who called him that.)

The next part of the tirade is at first whiny and incoherent, and then ends with the typical racism and sexism you see from men like him. He digresses from telling Jill how she should be addressed, to going on a tirade about the legitimacy of honorary doctorates. He complains about the level of intelligence of those who have received them, as if he should be the sole judge of who, and by what standards, anyone should receive an honorary degree. Then, in one of the more disgusting and desperate parts of the piece, he goes as far to say that “political correctness” has diminished ANY value they may have possessed. He writes that if you ever want an example to show how rare a thing is, you could say “rarer than a contemporary university honorary-degree list not containing an African-American woman.” He implies that honorary degrees are given out as “charity” or for publicity only. It is important to note, AGAIN, that while he goes on this vicious tirade about honorary degrees, Dr. Biden’s are not honorary; they were hard-earned and worthy of value and respect. (Unlike his fake, I mean honorary, doctoral achievement.)

He finishes off this piece of trash with this: “As for your Ed.D., Madame First Lady, hard-earned though it may have been, please consider stowing it, at least in public, at least for now. Forget the small thrill of being Dr. Jill, and settle for the larger thrill of living for the next four years in the best public housing in the world as First Lady Jill Biden.”

So, he is telling Dr. Biden that she should ignore the “small” thrill of her admirable education, and “settle” for being the little lady next to the POTUS? Let me tell you something, kiddo: A bachelor’s, two masters, and one doctoral degree are not SMALL accomplishments, and the thrill that comes with those achievements is not small either. The misogyny in this piece is not even thinly veiled. Let’s be clear: This would NEVER have been written about a man. If Joe Biden had a doctorate, this piece of garbage would have no problem calling him doctor. If this were about all people in general who do this, then there would be a similar patronizing call to men in the same boat. Why is the same demand not being made of other doctors in the political arena, such as:

  • Senator Dr. Ben Sasse (History)
  • Representative Dr. Jim Baird (Monogastric Nutrition)
  • Representative Dr. Tom Cole (British History)
  • Representative Dr. Rob Wittman (Public Health)
  • Representative Dr. Jody Hice (Ministry)

And these are just a few of many. Now, we don’t know in what circles they may or may not be addressed as “Doctor,” but that is beside the point. No one would ever tell them they shouldn’t be. Is there truly no end to the men that are appalled and threatened by educated, powerful women? Will there ever come a time when insecure men will stop trying to put us “in our place?”

Sexism is very prevalent in the educational field. A 2016 survey by AASA showed that while women make up 76% of teachers in the U.S., less than 25% of leadership positions in education (K-12) are held by women. The imbalance there is astounding. Dr. Biden’s accomplishments are not just about her. They are inspirational, and helping pave the way for future women to hold powerful positions of leadership in our nation’s educational process.

The truth is, women have to work harder, and earn more accolades in all fields, to be considered even remotely equal to a man who has achieved way less. And no matter how hard a woman works, there will always be a less-qualified man in the wings waiting to take her down. Yes, in 2020, this is still a thing. Pieces like this, albeit written by an old, white, asshat, only perpetuate the sexism and misogyny still very much in charge in our country.

Another point to consider, Joseph Epstein, BA, is that there are no MD’s without those with EdD’s, or PHD’s. No one gets to any of these levels without educators. And calling any one of these “Doctor” does not take anything away from the other two also being called “Doctor.” Those with doctoral degrees are not out on the street trying to pass themselves off as MD’s. If you were inside the academia circle, you would realize no one is trying to sound smarter than they are. Not to mention, “doctor” comes from the Latin word for “teacher.” It was originally reserved for theologians who were approved by the church to speak on religious matters. After that, it was used for academic titles, and medicine followed suit. In fact, in the US, you could not call yourself doctor unless you held a doctorate degree until the 1800’s, when it was adopted by physicians. (Also, the Miriam Webster Twitter account wins the internet with this reply)

Bottom line, only the person who earned the degree gets to make the decision on how they are addressed. Requesting that people in professional and public circles refer to you by your proper, earned title, is not unreasonable. I seriously doubt she makes her children and close friends “Doctor.” And while she will now be in the White House, she will still continue teaching, and has already made clear that education will be a priority in her duties as FLOTUS. So, she should still be addressed as Dr. Biden in the White House. Not that she owes anyone any reason or explanation for it.

And so, MR. Epstein, the lessons here are these:

  • Do NOT come for educators. They will eat you alive.
  • Do NOT come at us with your misogynistic BS. Women have had it, and we are not taking it in stride any longer.
  • Do not ever, for one second, think you have the right to tell ANYONE with a doctorate degree how they should or shouldn’t be addressed. Take your BA and sit down.

In conclusion, your days are through. You have historically been a racist, sexist, homophobic asshole. Your words and beliefs are irrelevant, and not worthy of anyone’s time. So, I’m gonna go ahead and file this under “Fragile Males Intimidated By Smart and Powerful Women” and move on. Dr. Biden has more class and education in her pinky than you have in your entire body. While your words made my blood boil, I would bet they are of no consequence to her. Her education, reputation, and character speak for themselves. She should and will wear her title proudly, and the rest of us will commend and respect that!

Sincerely,

The EdD’s, PHD’s, and all of the doctors more educated than you.

P.S. – If Indiana Jones can keep the title of “Doctor,” then Jill Biden sure fucking can too!

Advertisement

160 thoughts on “Dear Joseph Epstein, BA – Your Time is Done”

  1. Not to mention that in correct English usage, women being addressed formally are addressed as “Madam,” not “Madame.” That would be as in, Madam Speaker, Madam Justice, Madam Vice President. Save Madame, as is proper, for Frenchwomen. Or perhaps for your professor of romance philology, as long as she’s teaching you to speak French. Sheesh.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  4. Thank you for stating so eloquently what anyone with a functioning brain would not have said nearly as well. This semi old white man thanks you and says bravo. I’m hoping the WSJ gets flooded with letters that all begin with Dr. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  6. THIS. ALLLLLLL of this! I feel like I wrote this piece. Thank you!

    I am working on my Ed.D. I have NO problem sitting down and having a chat with this douchebiscuit and letting him know exactly what it’s like earning a doctorate. Since he clearly doesn’t understand. I’ll also remind him to “Be Best”.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    3. Well said , and keep at it. You will earn every bit of that title. Dr. Biden is one of us who have earned the degree while juggling work and family. She serves students who need educators like her.
      Dr. Munoz

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    4. From one doctorate earner to a future one, you win the internet today for working “douchebiscuit” into the conversation. Your hard work will be paying off soon, and I’m sure it’s not merely because of being rightfully referred to as Dr. Sterner.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

    5. It was as poor a choice to publish this ridiculous op ed, as it would be to even publish a grocery list from this guy. Epstein is 83 years old, but, seems to have no awareness of developments in the professional world for, literally, decades. It is laughable to even consider this guy a professional writer. This piece is on a par with a high school student’s essay I once read, entitled “A Woman’s Place is in the Home.” This young man opined that, “Without a woman in the home, who will take out the dog?” Did Epstein and the WSJ somehow miss the fact that the American people have endured the most improbable “first lady” for almost 4 years. Her “Be Best” campaign, in the midst of her husband’s constant cyber-bullying, has been an unmitigated disaster. Her major “accomplishments” appear to be building a tennis court, re-designing the White House Rose Garden, decorating the White House for Christmas, and, of course, being transparent in her feelings about migrant children and the above-mentioned decorating. Epstein’s quote about not calling yourself a doctor, unless you’ve delivered a baby, will go down in the history of offensive remarks published by a once notable newspaper. It is equivalent in it’s ignorance to the Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks’s claim that “people who live good lives, don’t have pre-existing conditions.” It will surprise Epstein and the “failing” WSG, that the White House will, once again, be occupied by people of intelligence, grace and
      competence. I, for one, cannot wait for this return of qualified leadership to the American presidency.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  7. Ooooh, testify! I love how you put this condescending, sexist a**hole in his place! Sharpen them knives, which I suspect you already have done especially during the past 4 years! DR. JILL BIDEN is a badass and she knows well how to defend herself, but half the world’s population (actually, I hear a bit more as WE are the “majority” now) has her back.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    2. Unfortunately, not all women have Dr Biden’s back. There are a lot of women, especially women of the Fundamentalist “Christian” ilk, who don’t think women should be educated beyond high school (if even that) and certainly not at the level of Dr Biden. Women are supposed to stay home and rear their sexist husband’s children.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  8. I must confess, I have never respected the current FLOTUS because she was a porn star who has done little or nothing for this country she calls home. However, I have never attacked her or made fun of her or called her kiddo. I don’t understand what made this man so angry about a two letter abbreviation (Dr.) that he would need to write a long diatribe to the WSJ. I’m looking forward to decency, dignity, and intelligence in the WH with great anticipation.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  9. This was sent to the editor of SJW:

    My wife taught elementary school for 20 years and with that put me through college and graduate school to earn a Ph.D. in research. But she didn’t stop there. When I moved from various teaching and research positions, and while rearing two daughters (who also went on to advanced degrees), she earned a masters degree and was offered a job as assistant professor in an education department. Traveling 4 hours from our home to a university in the desert, 3 nights a week, she earned an E.Ed.. She taught college students how to teach, and she was appointed a co-department chair. Although having more experience than anyone in her department, she was always paid the lowest salary and given the hardest work. It took it’s toll on her, finally, and she agreed to retire if I could get a Deanship so my salary would make up for hers. I did and she retired, never to look back, or to step into another education position.

    Like the assholes who would not pay her or reward her for her work, I think Epstein should be drawn and quartered, figuratively, and never allowed to blot the pages of the WSJ with his terribly misinformed opinions. Until that happens I’ll never read another WSJ article and will consider it the likes of FOX news and the rags that sit in bins at the grocery check outs.

    He, and you, should be ashamed.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  10. This is fantastic, but I have one small item of note. Joe Biden does have a doctorate, a JD from Syracuse. I regularly refer to my friends and colleagues with JDs as “Dr.” as well, for they, too, have earned it. Welcome to the White House, Dr. Biden & Dr. Biden. It is refreshing to have 2 doctors back in the house, like when we had Dr. Obama and Dr. Obama.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    2. Unfortunately, though those of us with a Juris Doctor have done the work to attain it, and others of us have continued on to become active members of the bar, it is not appropriate to call us Doctor. It is not deemed to be a terminal degree. With the Juris Doctor, we are permitted to put J.D. after our names. If we pass a bar exam, we are permitted to use Esquire (shortened to Esq.) after our name.

      We do not have the rigors of passing a dissertation, and even though I know other doctoral degrees do not require them and they still claim the title, most attorneys would not feel it appropriate to use doctor. We need only write a publishable work (similar to many other doctorals). I know there are some states or groups of people that believe it should be changed, but until that is endorsed by the ABA, it could actually be deemed as an ethical violation since the title would be used for someone continuing on to a Ph.D. in the field.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

      1. Even though some doctoral programs do not require a dissertation, they still require a doctoral project. The Applied Research Project, requires all of the elements of a dissertation (Literature Review, Proposal, Data Collection, Data Analysis and Dissemination). The dissemination stage is where the project is defended (presentation and question and answer with respect to the research). No doctoral studies program is easy, no matter the discipline. You have to do the work, and its rigorous. There are no shortcuts. When all of the requirements of the doctoral program are met that “Dr.” title is earned.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Victoria, It is true that lawyers do not have the rigor of passing a dissertation. However, I think that it is entirely reasonable to equate passing the bar exam with passing a dissertation. Both require the same degree of rigorous knowledge of the subject combined with both the logic and the creativity to apply it to novel situations. Heaven knows law school is every bit as challenging as any other doctoral program. By all means, reserve “Dr.” for those who have gone on to the Ph.D., but never doubt that the “D” in the J.D. belongs there. You’ve earned it.

        Liked by 1 person

  11. I understand what you are saying. However, I think you are reading too much into it. I am obviously not saying that what this man has written is in any way comparable to the atrocities of Jeffrey Epstein. And as far as anti-Semitic, I did not even think that or intend it in the slightest, and it’s a bit of a stretch on the joke I made. I am sorry if it offended you, it was not intended to offend anyone but just to break the ice.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. Thank you for writing what I was too angry and didn’t have the spoons for. I sent a nice email to wsj.ltrs@wsj.com though. And it would be great to flood them with our responses. I called for the firing of everyone who saw that piece of trash pass across their desk and didn’t stop it from getting published.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  13. Epstein and WSJ should be dragged in the street. How, in 2020 are we still not only dealing with this shit, but have it published? The age of old, white, males is over. You know he will just double down now. There is no rage big enough to change his bird brain. He is basking in the glory of those who are with him and laughing at all of the rest. When will it end?

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  17. As well as the other idiocies in Mr. Epstein’s remarks, the classism reeking from his comment about Dr. Biden’s dissertation paper is disgusting to me as a community college academic librarian. We have students who are homeless, or single parents, or trying to write their papers on their cell phone because they have no Internet access, or (in many cases) the first in their family to attend college, or working full-time, or combinations thereof. Shutdown due to Covid means that now they’re also trying to navigate an online learning environment, in many cases without computers or reliable Internet. It matters to me whether they make it through and I’m thrilled to learn that it matters to our First Lady as well. Epstein and his privilege, on the other hand, belong in the proverbial dustbin of history.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  18. If Epstein had a chance to meet or interview Dr. Henry Kissinger, I’m absolutely certain he would should HIM the respect that title deserves. What a loser!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    2. Wait, what? It’s not any better if they’re young and thin, is it? (I know what you’re getting at, but there are a few old fat guys in the world who are pretty terrific.)

      Like

      Reply

  20. Someone help me out here. I remember something about a surgeon complaining about Samuel Johnson being called a doctor because he wasn’t a medical doctor. His reply was something like “Sir, people in my profession were being called doctor when people in your profession were still being called barbers.”

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thanks for the reference. As a PhD, when this subject came up I would say that people were getting doctorates while physicians and surgeons were still giving shaves and haircuts. Now I know where this came from.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. There was just so much to process here it was easy to miss. I did notice it and it made me angry too. Absolutely disgusting to call out African-American women getting a honorary doctorate. However that’s to be expected by a piece of racist, misogynist garbage.

        Liked by 2 people

  22. Thank you very much for your pitch-perfect, stem-to-stern evisceration of Mr. Epstein’s racist, misogynistic, classist, and privileged laden attack in which you had his “guts-for-garters” in an elegantly economical counter-attack that displayed for all who read how empty his inner-life has to be to have written such invective against someone he does not know . . . His “opinion piece” reveals how barren he is of self-knowledge, the very thing the ancient Greeks required as the basis for all knowledge. Find it inscribed at the Oracle of Delphi: gnôthi s’autôn — “Know thyself.”

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  23. Thank you for taking the rant from my brain and making it intelligible, coherent, and funny as hell. You’ve brought my stress level down considerably. If I could buy you a coffee or a glass of wine I sure would! Here’s to smart, hard-working women doctors and all who respect them properly for the badasses we are!

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  24. I am a high school graduate with no degree. However, I have great respect for women who go on to get their degrees and have worked with American and international ph.Ds and MDs in the pharmaceutical industry as an executive assistant and was (for the most part) treated with respect. I have always respected Dr. Joe and Dr. Jill and I am so glad to read your response to Epstein. Thank you so much for your response.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  27. With full respect for the time and hard work required to earn each of the doctoral degrees and with recognition that each one deserves to be addresses by the title, it is dismaying that so many of the comments given resort to the simple-minded vulgarity of the “four-letter-word” expressions of disapproval. Can one be considered truly educated if he or she cannot make his or her corrections without such expressions?

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

      1. I have wanted to reply to so many commenters because they’re wonderful and intelligent responses. But to chastise these educated women, or anyone, for using the word “fuck” seems ridiculous to me. Do you realize what a great word fuck is? It can be used as every part of speech: a verb, a noun, an adjective…so versatile. I know people who are offended by this word, but why? It is a great word! I’m an ex-Mormon (thank you, Jesus!), and I admit that I didn’t use that word for many years (even when I was having a baby!). Now? I embrace it because it is, at times, the perfect word. Please, Ms. Dobnikar, refrain from such high-minded criticisms.

        Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, I must congratulate akohlhofer for this cogent, well written response to that asshole Mr. Epstein and putting him in his place. It was lovely to read, truly lovely. Thank you.

        Liked by 1 person

  28. This WSJ piece was written by a man who, when editor of The American Scholar (Phi Beta Kappa’s magazine), wrote as Aristides, “the best and most honorable man in Athens.” (Herodotus) And he worries about Dr. Biden using the title she earned…….

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  31. “Will there ever come a time when insecure men will stop trying to put us “in our place?”” Borrowing from RBG – “When there are nine.” Actually, for insecure misogynists like this asshat, when there are 435 + 100 + 9 + 2.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  33. Thank you for that wonderful response to that asshat, MR Epstein. I have my doctorate in Pharmacy (PharmD) and yes, in professional company I am referred to as Dr Quart. My ex- received his PharmD the same day as I did. He is now CEO of a Biopharmaceutical company, and you can bet that WSJ ALWAYS refers to him as DR Quart.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  34. When I was in graduate school earning my Ph.D. my roommate was a physician from Belgium doing post-doctoral research, she said that (at that time in the 1970’s) in Europe Ph.D.’s had way more social status than physicians and were addressed as “Doctor” while most physicians were not so addressed.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  35. Thank you! You said what I wanted to say but better. The PhD predated the MD by 700 years (1105 AD to 1807 AD).
    Before 1807 (and then, only in the US), medical practitioners were referred to as “Mr”. And it is clear that he has no understanding whatsoever of the difference between an awarded (earned) degree and an honorary degree.
    The only thing I would have added is that if a woman were to make the claim, as Joseph Epstein has, that she had climbed the academic ladder without benefit of higher degrees, many someones would ask who she slept with to enable that to happen. It is only because he is a privileged male that he has not been asked that question.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  36. Epstein quotes: “A wise man once said that no one should call himself ‘Dr.’ unless he has delivered a child.” No biological male has ever delivered a child. The mother delivers the child. Everyone around her is there to assist, even the obstetrician.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  37. Bravo!!! Here’s my comment to the WSJ earlier this morning:

    Your publication of Joseph (not a doctor of any sort) Epstein’s piece on Dr. Jill Biden, PhD, shows that you are still the sexist, racist publication that you have always been. This is why I’ve never had and never will purchase a subscription for the WSJ, nor a single paper.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  38. I have not read the entirety of the WSJ (for some reason paying to get covered in garbage doesn’t appeal), but I wanted to speak up as someone who has both an EdD *and* and MD.

    There was no reason for the WSJ piece other than petty snark from an uninformed yob. As for the “got an honorary doctorate from a professor” that in itself is a load of nonsense. Honorary doctorates are issued by *accredited institutions* in recognition for a lifetime of professional service that puts one on a par with doctoral recipients. As a faculty member I don’t have a wallet full of “honorary doctorate cards” to give out.

    The only context in which my MD outranks my EdD in terms of the expectation of the use of the title “doctor” is in clinical practice, because we treat the MD uniquely there. Even so, if I know a patient has a PhD or an MD or an EdD I always address them as “Dr …” because it is the correct thing to do, and not doing so would be rude. In any other academic, non-clinical setting, “Dr.” is the province of of anyone whose terminal degree ends in “D”.

    It’s ironic that one with a mere BA would sound off about Dr. Biden’s degree in this way. It may ingratiate him to the uneducated mob that are the Donald Trump supporters, but those of us in academia and medicine are horrified for Dr. Biden and disgusted by MR. Epstein. Without even having done Master’s level work (as pretty much all of us who have doctorates have also done) he hasn’t the slightest clue about the amount of work that goes into any advanced degree, or the transformative process that is the pursuit of one. The work that I had to do to get my EdD was different than the work I had to do to get my MD, but both were prolonged periods of rigorous academic activity and tremendous personal growth.

    Maybe the right punishment is to send MR Epstein to graduate school.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  39. This was the best thing I’ve read all day. I have a PhD in music education and my sister is an MD (ob-gyn) and we both worked our asses off to get where we are. Thank you for your amazing response.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

      1. The only reason that ‘Dr.’ before ‘Jill’ SOUNDS pretentious or fraudulent to Mr. E’s ears is that his ears are old and accustomed to ‘Dr. Jack”, not “Jill. He has not moved forward with the times – and he has an unbecoming nasty streak in his attitude that deforms his thoughts.

        Liked by 2 people

  41. Wow. This is a great essay. One thing that really amused me that you didn’t bring up (which actually is pretty small compared to the issues you *did* address): “A wise man once said that no one should call himself “Dr.” unless he has delivered a child”. So I guess the “wise man” that this Epstein fellow quoted is essentially saying (for example) that dentists, oncologists, orthopedic surgeons, cardiologists, and neurologists shouldn’t call themselves “Dr.” either? Only general practitioners, obstetricians, and obstetrician-gynecologists should call themselves doctors…mmmmokay. I mean reproductive doctors have amazing training and are awesome to be sure, but everyone else in the medical field is chopped liver? Really? And I guess this means no veterinarian should call themselves doctor, either (I mention this last bit because I do happen to be a veterinarian).

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  42. Pingback: | Dear Joseph Epstein, BA – Your Time is DonePurple Mandala

  43. Brilliantly said! I’m 63 and just went back to school to get my Ph.D. I’m loving it. And just to set the record straight, I delivered 7 children. I appreciate the MD’s who were in attendance, but I delivered them!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  44. I have been appalled over the last few years to discover that all the shins I kicked and all the insteps I stomped and all the hands I swatted away all those years ago apparently went for nought. I was the only female in my computer and engineering classes and the first female of two (female) engineers at my first job. I was loud and proud because I was a specialist in a career where there was a shortage of people with the proper training and education. So unlike the secretary – who DID get fired for going to the manager of a guy who was sexually harassing her – I wasn’t going to get fired for stomping, kicking, and swatting, nor for insisting on the use of my name instead of “honey” or “dear”. It DID affect my career but frankly I was unwilling to be pawed and degraded just for a few dollars more. Maybe. No promise of that even if I HAD gritted my teeth and bore it.

    I’ve had similar encounters with undereducated men who tried to tell me I had no right to my job or education as long as there was a single man anywhere who hadn’t already achieved the same. One guy had been one class short of graduating and instead dropped out and took a job programming, only after 6 or 8 years of not getting promoted, now he thought it was unfair that I was at a higher level (though not as high as my same-educated and often less-competent male compatriots) of salary and respect than he could garner. When I suggested he go back to school and finish his degree, he snarfed on about his 2 kids (that his stay at home wife took care of all day). Totally ignoring the fact that I was a single mother taking graduate classes at night. Somehow that was also unfair – to HIM.

    It just boggles the mind that in this day and age there are still dinosaurs out there who think its perfectly acceptable to rant on about uppity women and uppity “coloureds” or whatever denigrating term they slap on whoever it is that is the hated-minority-du-jour. But 4 years of Dumbf stumbling around the White House has emboldened every misogynistic bigoted smellfungus out there. This guy (whose name I won’t even bother to commit to memory) is just another jealous incompetent man venting his spleen at the world.

    In the meantime, I am reclaiming my title of NPR – Not Properly Reverent, a title bestowed upon me by female friends and compatriots many years ago (and not, initially at least, kindly meant, either).

    I may be too old to get a proper kick in at the appropriate (roughly) mid-body level on a male aggressor any more, but I do have a cane now. It’ll just have to do.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  45. Thank you for your reply to Mr. Epstein. My husband earned an Ed.D and then spent 30 years as a university professor training teachers, helping many of them, male and female earn doctorates. He is now in the great classroom in the sky but would have many pithy things to say to Mr. Epstein

    There are so many issues brought forth in his column, in your reply and in your readers’ replies. As a journalist, the publication of his ridiculous article distresses me. As a retired university professor of journalism (only have an MS so called”professor” not “doctor”) his sexism distresses me, and some of your supporters’ comments that he is old and fat and therefore stupid distress me. I’m not fat, although some of my best friends are, but I’m old (89),still do the Times crossword in ink and can find my feet with relative ease
    I’ll bet Mr. Epstein has always been a nitwit and age didn’t make him one .
    But whatever the case he deserves what he’s been getting and thank you for leading the pack

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  46. I have never been included in a “contemporary university honorary-degree list” lol; however, I am an African-American woman who has earned both a JD and PhD. With that being said, I, wholeheartedly, approve of those who have earned the title of “Doctor” regardless of race and/or sex being addressed as such. I approve this message!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  48. Thank you for writing this article. I don’t have a PHD. I stopped after the MA. I am in awe of those who went on. HE is simply an idiot and does not deserve any more of our time.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  49. I agree with this 99.9999% I have one quibble…not really a quibble…but anyway… You stated that “Now, while I realize the Wall Street Journal is a conservative publication comprised mostly of old, sexist, and irrelevant white men, I also operated under the assumption that it was a business and financial-focused publication.”

    This used to be very true. Even with its conservative leaning, they used to stick to the facts, even in opinion pieces. Then Rupert Murdoch bought the WSJ and turned it into another trash rag like Fox. It hasn’t been reputable or honorable in a long time. It is why POS’ like Mr. Epstein are allowed to spew their stone age BS in this publication. Everything Murdoch touches turns to a pile of rabid shite.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  50. Epstein only has a BA so there is a bit of degree envy there. There is also a prideful, populist, anti-elitist tone to the way he champions his lack of advanced degrees. Chip on your shoulder much, dude? Nonetheless, he seems to enjoy posing as a professor at a prestigious university where he has never been more than a visiting lecturer, and hasn’t lectured in over 20 years. When the university became aware of his WSJ opinion piece, they disowned any association with him.

    I’m not surprised that the Murdoch owned WSJ published this rubbish. It fits right in with their ongoing denial of who won the presidential election. If you look back on Epstein’s body of writing, you will find plenty of racist, misogynist, homophobic, right-wing themes. Perhaps he took aim at Dr. Jill because he is unhappy with the will of the people. He sure owned the libs by dissing the FLOTUS-elect, didn’t he? He’s getting more attention with his opinion piece than he probably ever did over his entire career. Get ye to the golf cart, you sad old loser.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

%d bloggers like this: