To start using my Dr title everywhere?

[Fyette]

I am 35 years old, but was born with the mixed genetic blessing of always looking far younger than my actual age. I still regularly get asked for ID in pubs and even at the cinema. I have a DD and people tend to assume I am a (very) young mother.

And yes, sometimes this is nice and flattering.

But like all women, and especially young women, I seem to get patronised a lot. I especially notice it at my DDs school (and before that with the HV), or in semi-formal settings.

I have a PhD and have never used my dr title outside of work, because I don't want to seem like a twat, basically. But sometimes I feel seeming like an obnoxious twat might be preferable to having to put up with this general condescension. Perhaps if I start introducing myself as Dr Fyette I will be taken more seriously? AIBU?

(Mind you: I do not think young women without a PhD deserve to be patronised any more than I do.)

I don't have a Phd but I do have letters after my name ... so perhaps I should start using mine as well.

I'm amazed how many people are saying use it. I've got one and wouldn't dream of using it to get respect. However, I dont have the issue of looking younger .....

I don't use it routinely, but I have no qualms about using it when I'm being patronised. I also look quite young, and sometimes need to make it clear to people that I am actually a well educated professional in my field.

To be honest, in the dark days of my PhD, sometimes the lure of being able to call myself DrSheep was the only thing which kept me going.

Do it!!

Use it!

Super nosy what is your PhD in?

Use it! Put it on a fucking t-shirt! You worked hard for it, so use it. I bloody would! I'd make my husband call me Dr if I had a PhD

Ugh don't do it! It is so naff when people with a PhD call themselves Dr outside of a professional setting, really cringeworthy. Like people who put their quals after their email sign off.

I bloody well would.

I immediately thought of Frasier but I'm also in my 30s and looks young and get patronised. If I manage to do a PhD then I would join you in the twattishness and use it!

YADNBU

I'd wear a flashing neon hat with Dr on it if I had one. I would love to have studied more.

Go for it, you deserve it, my dad often has letters with his ex army rank as a title

I'm against it; outside of an academic or work related environment it is not generally used except by medical doctors.

Germans use it. Also Dr Ross Geller.

Ugh don't do it! It is so naff when people with a PhD call themselves Dr outside of a professional setting, really cringeworthy. Like people who put their quals after their email sign off.

Agreed. It makes me cringe when people do this - unless they are medical practitioners.

I would tattoo it on my face, if I were you. You worked bloody hard for that, and they don't just hand them out

I'm a young (medical) doctor and use title frequently when feeling like I'm being dismissed. Works especially well over the phone to utilities bills I find!

I would

It also makes me cringe unless you are in a professional setting. Stop being insecure because you look young. Embrace it.

I want to do a PhD, just so I can specifically NOT use the title

We have a wanker at work who refuses to accept meeting minutes if the attendees list doesn’t have Dr W Anker stated. And he once raised a grievance to HR when someone addressed an email to Dear Wayne instead to Dear Dr - claimed they were being disrespectful.

He’s a dickhead though.

Absolutely do but do expect a lot of randoms to ask if you can take a look at their rash or start telling you about their recent mystery illness.

originalpigeon’s occasional use sounds best, it sounds like a good idea but I immediately remembered a (medical) doctor friend’s story of how he qualified immediately before he got married and went on honeymoon and was plagued with daily calls from reception at the hotel he and his new wife were staying at because some random emergency required a doctor!! Pretty quickly he learned to keep it on the down low

Dr W Anker

🤣😂🤣😂

I guess you could always have a look at the mystery rash and then say gravely that your PhD in Ancient Greek sewerage systems didn’t adequately explore this type of thing?

I use mine all the time. When I lived in the UK I had many times where people would phone up and ask to speak to Dr...... I would say 'speaking' and they would either pause or ask again because they expected the Dr to be male. Very important for us to.change this stereotype!