AIBU - use of ‘Dr’ title - is this normal?!

[Cheesecake45]

Just not sure if I need to get with the times or not - is it normal to go by the title ‘Dr’ simply for having a PhD, if you aren’t in the medical profession? I’m talking one of the easiest PhDs to get (comparatively speaking), nothing vaguely linked to medicine.

AIBU??
YES = this is totally normal get over yourself
NO = wouldn’t be caught dead calling myself a doctor unless I could be assistance in a medical emergency!

I don't think we should use titles at all but if asked for one I use Dr.

It is neutral to gender and marital status which I like.

Also it conveys an important aspect of my identity (am working as an academic; admittedly I might feel different if I wasn't). I imagine many people like being called Mrs for a similar reason now I think about it.

What is cringey and liable to be misunderstood would be if a PhD said they were 'a doctor' rather than that they 'have a doctorate'.

I don't use my title much - at work (scientific software development, not academia) we've nearly all got a PhD. When I was younger, if I encountered eg bank managers or medics assuming a small blonde woman would be an airhead, you bet I used it!

I love your friend!

Being asked whether you are Miss or Mrs (wish that would die out) is the most justified moment ever to play the Dr card.

As someone who worked for many years in higher education, with several professors and doctors, I don't see it as unusual or embarrassing. I know how hard it is to achieve a PhD in any subject, there is no easy PhD. If I had the stamina and commitment to achieve one I'd use the title proudly. The title of Dr isn't just for those in the medical profession, those doctors are one of many types.

This is your issue, not hers

Medics actually stole the Dr title from academics.

In England, it is unusual. On the Continent, it is very normal. A PhD shows a very high level of education which those who worked very hard for it want to be acknowledged.

I don’t work as an academic anymore but still has Dr as title on everything. Like others say why are women so proud of being married and think of those who completed and used their PhD title as cringey?

I really don’t like titles and I think they should be abolished. Even in schools.

I have several friends with PhDs and I always address their Christmas card envelopes to Dr [name]. I know how hard they worked for it. I also work with someone who I discovered recently has a PhD in a completely unrelated field and doesn’t use Dr at work for that reason (no idea if she does on her gas bills!). It is a major achievement and I respect that.

I’m a non medical Dr. Hard earned, it’s on my passport, driving licence etc.

Why wouldn’t it be?

If you are a nurse with a phd you aren't allowed to use your title at work - read into that what you will!

On another note, my mum was so proud when I got my PhD and over 20 years later she still addresses things to Dr KeinLiebeslied54321 when she's sending me random things! It makes me smile. 👍

Never call a surgeon 'Doctor', they find it very offensive. Mr it is.

Yes they do. Lots of people do. Just because you don't doesn't make it wrong!

To avoid confusion. There's nothing to 'read into'.

Yes, I experience the same, hence it sounding so odd being called 'Mrs'. I generally avoid a title but if I have to I put 'Ms'. I did put that on the school paperwork but they still call me 'Mrs' which is fine - it doesn't bother me, I just find it strange.

I’d ignore you if you asked me to refer to you as dr.

I read into it an entirely common sense decision to avoid any confusion in a situation where it's extremely relevant who is and is not a medical dr.

I know of someone doing a PhD in genderwang. Something to do with non binary identity specialness. She did our organisation’s transgender pronoun indoctrination and came across as an utter lunatic and a bit of a simpleton.

One of my parents is a medication doctor and he sees this the other way round, interestingly.

I think it’s pathetic to call yourself Dr if you only have a phd unless you work in academia, in which case it helps rank you in the workplace.

I say ‘she’ but I think she’s actually a they/them herself, despite being well into her 40s.

What’s an easy PHD?

I think if someone’s earned it, it’s fine to use. I work with several people who use Dr and I always respect it.

I’m an expert in my job, I don’t expect people to use my job title.

Yes completely normal.

There are many types of doctors and only a few types are medical.