Dr. Jill Biden Is Going Viral After Op-Ed Writer Urges Her to Drop "Dr." Title
Dr. Jill Biden Is Going Viral After Op-Ed Writer Urges Her to Drop "Dr." Title
Columnist Joseph Epstein's senseless request is being slammed as sexist.
There is a doctor in the White House, and her name is Dr. Jill Biden. However, apparently, not everyone has gotten the memo yet.
On Friday, Wall Street Journal columnist Joseph Epstein wrote an op-ed titled, "Is There a Doctor in the White House? Not if You Need an M.D.," in which he argued the future First Lady should drop her "dr." accolade, claiming the honor feels "fraudulent" and "a touch comic" given that she's not a medical doctor.
"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," Epstein kicked off his narrative, before diminishing her accomplishment even further: "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.'"
He added, "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."
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Dr. Jill Biden holds a doctorate degree in education from the University of Delaware, a honor she obtained at age 55 after returning to school while raising three children (a feat in itself). Let's also not forget that while serving alongside her husband Joe Biden during his vice presidency, she was the first second lady in history to work full-time.
Needless to say, Jill Biden earned her doctor title, and she can use it as she damn well pleases.
The majority of Twitter agrees with that sentiment, and users on the social platform have begun to rally behind Biden, slamming Epstein's senseless request as a sexist attack.
Joe Biden's communications director, Kate Bedingfield, labeled Epstein's piece as "patronizing sexist, elitist drivel." She reminded Epstein, "Dr. B earned a doctorate in education, so we call her Doctor."
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Meanwhile, vice president-elect Kamala Harris's husband, Dough Emhoff, also came to Biden's defense, tweeting: "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."
Epstein has yet to respond to the backlash.