Teach for America
How Americans feel about the ‘Dr Jill Biden’ editorial
One of the many quirks of the English language is the “Dr.” honorific. Most likely, when you hear it, you immediately think of a physician in a white coat. Yet, it could refer to all sorts of professions, and includes anyone who’s obtained a doctorate degree (e.g. PhD). One can be a doctor of philosophy, engineering, and in the case of future first lady and English professor Dr. Jill Biden, education. Not everyone agrees that the title should be used outside of the medical field, though. A controversial op-ed in The Wall Street Journal this week urged Jill Biden to drop the “Dr.” honorific for this reason, stating that it “sounds and feels fraudulent, not to say a touch comic.” Backlash was swift, with many public figures and women calling the editorial misogynistic and demeaning, and arguing that the piece would have never been written about a man. Journal Opinion Editor Paul Gigot fired back Sunday, claiming Democrats orchestrated criticism and that “there’s nothing like playing the race or gender card to stifle criticism.” That night, Jill Biden responded by tweeting “Together, we will build a world where the accomplishments of our daughters will be celebrated, rather than diminished.”
This isn’t the first time proper usage of “Dr.” has been debated and it likely won’t be the last. It’s usage even varies amongst English grammar styles. AP Style, one of the most commonly used, including by publications like the Journal and USA Today, dictates that “Dr.” should not be used for academic credentials in news articles. Do Americans feel the same way? For insight, we asked Fat Finger users their thoughts on the op-ed and when the “Dr.” title should be claimed. Here are the three most interesting takeaways:
“Doctor” Approval
A majority (54%/31%) of Americans don’t just back Jill Biden putting “Dr.” in front of her name. They also say they would use it too if they had a doctorate but not an MD. Women were the most supportive of a “Dr.” Jill Biden with 61% in favor compared to 46% of men — though an additional 20% of men said they approve but wouldn’t use it themselves compared to only 3% of women. In yet another sign of the ongoing party wars, 97% of Democrats approved of Jill Biden’s use of the title compared to just 37% of Republicans, while Independents were mostly in favor (61%/ 31%).
That’s Just Like, Your Opinion, Man
The op-ed sure provoked a lot of commentary, but a majority (56%/39%) of Americans say they disagreed with the premise and 60% found it condescending. A plurality (45%) consider the writer sexist, though the accusation was sharply divided on gender — 61% of female respondents vs. 32% of male. Most women (57%) also said the issue “matters to me” compared to just 20% of men. As for the political breakdown, you guessed it, Dems and Republicans were as divided as ever and split by 50 points or more on each statement.
Split-Style
The AP Stylebook is a fluid document that is regularly updated due to the ever-evolving nature of language. Should they change their standards for “Dr.”? Americans were split, with 43% agreeing with the current rule of “Dr.” referring only to medical professionals while 42% say they disagree. Democrats (71%) and women (50%) were the most opposed to the current standards while Republicans (79%) and men (51%) said they preferred them. A majority of Independents (54%/38%) also backed the current style. The most agreement, though, came among 12% of respondents made up of an almost equal number of users from each party and gender. Their answer? “Don’t care.”
Related Polls:
It’s no secret that many jobs will one day be performed by robots and AI. Five years ago, we asked which of nine common jobs has the most room for improvement if eventually done by a machine. A plurality (31%) chose “politician,” no surprise there. “Doctor” tied for second with “spouse” at 15%. Teacher, Jill Biden’s profession, came in fifth with 8%.
Sometimes it takes a controversy to gain notoriety, even as a future first lady. On the eve of the Democratic Convention in August, we asked Fat Finger users which of 10 speakers they were most interested in seeing deliver a speech. Joe Biden was the most anticipated at 15%. Jill Biden was the least, with 0%
by Landry Harlan
