We often say, “what’s in the words and one must understand the feelings” but the wrong use of words at a wrong place creates a lot of problems sometimes.
Something similar happened recently as an Australia based doctor living in the UK objected to the way a flight attendant referred to her.
The flight attendant used the word “Miss” for her and she had a problem with it because she’s a PhD and wants everyone to use the title “Doctor” instead.
Dr Siobhan O’Dwyer took to Twitter and wrote-
Hey @Qantas, my name is Dr O’Dwyer. My ticket says Dr O’Dwyer. Do not look at my ticket, look at me, look back at my ticket, decide it’s a typo, and call me Miss O’Dwyer. I did not spend 8 years at university to be called Miss.
Her tweet received mostly negative response from Twitterati. There were some who supported her mostly couldn’t relate to her and criticised her for the tweet. Have a look at some reactions-
#1
https://twitter.com/lislindley/status/1035586236885491713
#2
https://twitter.com/GDam3003/status/1036117936342097920
#3
Did you address the cabin crew using their job titles though? They also didn't spend all that time training and dealing with obnoxious passengers to be mocked on Twitter. #TitleEquality
— Rod Dutra (@roddutra_) September 7, 2018
#4
I was on a flight today and someone said "welcome aboard MR PATEL"….It clearly says "Dr" on my boarding pass.
I responded back with "thanks so much, how's your day going?"
And then I sat down.
— Alok Patel (@AlokPatelMD) September 7, 2018
#5
Wow, responses to this are a nasty blend of anti-intellectualism and sexism. 🙁
— Dr Darren Saunders (@whereisdaz) September 3, 2018
#6
this is what this whole ridiculous fiasco reminded me of 🤣 @Qantas pic.twitter.com/ufyGGfdgLp
— Farhan Mirza (@farhanm1rza) September 6, 2018
#7
I work as an editor and sometimes writer in higher education. As a rule, I use credentials (Ph.D., Ed.D., M.D., J.D., et al.) in bylines, but in biographies and speeches, consistently use either last name or first name without honorific specifically to avoid this sort of outrage.
— ArtistLike (@Artistlike) September 7, 2018
#8
I’m pretty sure a male with a Dr are not called Dr in this situation too. I believe the staff are looking at your ticket to see where your seat is. They are not looking to see how amazing you are in life. 🙄
— Colin Mahony (@mahony_colin) September 7, 2018
#9
https://twitter.com/Pete80s/status/1037815641070161920
#10
Can't say I've ever addressed anyone I know with a PhD as 'doctor', including all my university lecturers. Nor do any of them require me to address them as such. Maybe if you'd spent 8 years in the real world, you'd have a grip on reality, Miss.
— Lee Alexander (@leealexand3r) September 7, 2018
#11
The sense of entitlement is embarrassing. And playing the sexism card in an attempt to justify a petty grievance is just as bad
— GoTobann (@pagangooner) September 7, 2018
Dr Siobhan O’Dwyer tweeted again-
Copping so much flack for this tweet. This was not about my ego. It was about highlighting one of a thousand instances of sexism that women encounter every day. It’s not about the title, it’s about the fact that this wouldn’t have happened if I was a man.
Copping so much flack for this tweet. This was not about my ego. It was about highlighting one of a thousand instances of sexism that women encounter every day. It’s not about the title, it’s about the fact that this wouldn’t have happened if I was a man. https://t.co/1XHvQIb2iZ
— A/Prof Siobhan O'Dwyer (@Siobhan_ODwyer) September 2, 2018
Do you think her anger is justified?