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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Look at your driving licence

80 replies

BertieBotts · 09/05/2012 23:28

And your male partner/DH/DS's driving licence. The photocard ones.

Do you notice anything about the names? I noticed this the other day and it made me feel a bit Hmm

OP posts:
Alameda · 09/05/2012 23:29

I don't have a male partner nearby (luckily!) - give us a clue?

axure · 09/05/2012 23:32

Well my name is prefixed with "Mrs", I'm guessing DH and DS just have their names? If that's it then it doesn't bother me tbh.

StealthPolarBear · 09/05/2012 23:33

I can't ATM. I know dh is entitled to drive a lot more than me though, simplt because he's a year older!

AnnieLobeseder · 09/05/2012 23:33

Ooooooh, Bertie, now I'm MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!!

DH's licence:

  1. Lobeseder
  2. Joe

My licence:

  1. Lobeseder
  2. MRS ANNIE

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

StealthPolarBear · 09/05/2012 23:35

Well in fairness that means you could ne Dr but he'd always just be Joe.

AnnieLobeseder · 09/05/2012 23:37

Stealth - As it happens, I am halfway through my PhD. But whenever I point out that I will soon be Dr Lobeseder and he'll just be Joe, he points out with great smugness that he earns twice what I do Sad.

StealthPolarBear · 09/05/2012 23:38

Make sure. You get it changed, well all chip in :o and see if they do make it Dr

Original poster
BertieBotts · 09/05/2012 23:39

Yes Annie and axure have it Grin Very satisfying screaming response, Annie.

I work in a shop and we use driving licences as one form of ID to sign people up. I noticed it as I always ask for title even for men, just in case they're a doctor etc.

I have never noticed if it includes Dr/Prof/Rev etc for men, haven't come across anyone who has this. I'd be interested to know. If so, then that is irritating because to me it's saying that "Mr" is a given, the default option, if nothing else is there, assume that. And women are "other" by virtue of having Miss/Mrs on theirs.

I mentioned this to my work colleagues and they all looked at me like Confused

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 09/05/2012 23:39

Or we could just ask a female Dr mner I suppose, might be quicker!

Original poster
BertieBotts · 09/05/2012 23:40

Ooh yes, let's do that. And I want to know if male Drs have Dr Joe on their driving licence.

OP posts:
Original poster
BertieBotts · 09/05/2012 23:42

I've just found this - how weird. www.complicity.co.uk/blog/2010/08/dvla-foi-request-driving-licence-titles/

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AnnieLobeseder · 09/05/2012 23:43

I will take a poll at work tomorrow (full of Drs of both genders). Unfortunately no-one will have their licences on them as we can't take anything personal into work cos of biosecurity. So gathering the results may take a day or two.

KRITIQ · 09/05/2012 23:46

Mine says "Ms First-Name Surname." It does seem odd if they require a title for women but not men.

AnnieLobeseder · 09/05/2012 23:48

I have posted a straw poll on FB for all my work friends, but it's late so probably won't get any replies tonight.

Oubliette0292 · 09/05/2012 23:48

DH is a Dr, but I can't find his wallet at the moment to check his driving licence. I'm fairly sure it doesn't say Dr XXX though.

Poledra · 09/05/2012 23:49

I have Dr Poledra on mine - DH is no use, as even though he's a Dr too, he doesn't have a driving licence...

Alameda · 09/05/2012 23:49

gah

have never called myself Mrs yet there it is

my bank did it too, it's even more annoying than someone spelling something wrong

what are titles even for?

MmeLindor. · 09/05/2012 23:50

Mine is no use to you, cause it is Swiss. But I am glad that I saw this cause I will watch what I put when I request my UK licence.

Interesting.

notpodd · 10/05/2012 07:54

I think this is dreadful! Mine is from South Africa still because I'm too lazy to get it updated to a UK one and it just says Notpodd, Fannyapples, neither Ms, Mrs or Dr, which is just the way I like it.

AbigailAdams · 10/05/2012 08:01

Notpodd Fannyapples has just made me snort my tea!

God these institutions like the DVLA are bloody annoying. I am probably Miss on mine then. Lovely.

MrsBranestawm · 10/05/2012 08:05

Just checked mine and DH's for your straw poll.

DH's licence says Dr Branestawm, mine says Mrs.

skrumle · 10/05/2012 08:23

i'm Miss which is not a title i have used for over 20 years so i'm a bit aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh about it!

axure · 10/05/2012 08:25

As you may have gathered I wouldn't class myself as a feminist, so I'm interested to know why this annoys you? What difference does it make? Most people had never noticed it before and the sky hadn't fallen in.

lancelottie · 10/05/2012 08:27

Mine's Dr Lance.

I'd assumed DH's was the same. Must check.

Original poster
BertieBotts · 10/05/2012 08:32

If you don't class yourself as a feminist then it probably sounds petty, and granted it doesn't make any actual difference in real terms, but it is just another example of how the status of "man" is taken for granted, it's the default assumption, it does not need qualifying, unless there is something different Whereas being female does, so that's like saying there is something "different" about being a woman.

It's just because it's an example of the othering which is taken for granted. We are 50% of the population, we shouldn't be a special interest group.

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