We Analyzed the Comments on the Atrocious "Dr. Jill Biden" Op-Ed

On Dec. 11, the Wall Street Journal published an op-ed by Joseph Epstein claiming that Jill Biden's use of the title "Dr." feels "fraudulent, even comic," and referring to her as "kiddo." The tone of the piece is all too familiar to women, especially Black and brown women, across academia, who know what it feels like to be constantly questioned about their expertise from peers and strangers alike. The article led to an uproar, with academics across disciplines calling out its sexism and snobbery. Responses in the Atlantic, the New York Times, Forbes, and elsewhere argued that Biden should ignore Epstein's advice to "consider stowing" her degree and stick to her honorific. Academia is no stranger to overt and subtle sexism, which can manifest through student evaluations or even how women academics are introduced during speaking engagements.