'lady dentist'

[Toadsrevisited]

Just had the primary school newsletter for this week and it refers to the visit of the 'lady dentist'. Dint want to be a difficult parent but don't think that is acceptable. How would you word an email? Or would you ignore it?

My vagina dentata is probably due a check-up.

I read that article it was really interesting.

IIRC they looked at conferences and seminars and noted that the men were usually introduced as "Dr such and such" and the women first name.

I can't regurgitate the conclusions as the author expressed them, but it was related to unconscious stuff around authority and respect.

Well you don’t want to look silly OP so, before you kick off, just check she’s not actually married to a Lord.

Research done at medical conferences showed that women’s professional titles were used 49% of the time while mens were used 72% of the time (based on 300 introductions)

I can confirm this from my own experiences. I am VERY rarely introduced as Dr. Babelfish whereas men with phds and MDs are ALWAYS introduced by title.

Except in Germany and Austria where people are horrified if you don’t introduce each other by title

Dr Greer is always called Ms Greer or Germaine Greer.

Professor Jeffreys, or Dr Jeffreys is always called Ms Jeffreys or Sheila Jeffreys.

Dr Lucas is always called Ms Lucas or Caroline Lucas.

Feminists are just as bad as anyone at degrading these women with PhDs.

Judas if that were the case, she would be Lady Jones, the dentist. Not a lady dentist.

Feminists are just as bad as anyone at degrading these women with PhDs.

Are we? I’ve never introduced any of them personally but if I did I’d use their titles. I’d imagine very few people on here have met and introduced them either.

We are talking about introducing people formally at conferences and academic meetings not ‘well according to this paper by smith, jones and bigglesworth we see that...’ statements.

Southfields that is an interesting point and a good one.

Feminists live in society and so absorb and reflect these things as much as anyone else.

I have only ever heard Germaine Greer referred to as Germaine Greer - I didn't even know she was a Dr!

Are there any equivalent examples of men where they are or aren't called by their title? I can only think of "Dr David Bull" right now!

David Attenborough - is he a dr? Is he a sir in fact?

Having trouble thinking of men on the telly who are germaine greer equivalents! (Note - not david attenborough he's a bit more widely known!).

What about Tom Jones... That bloke out of Queen has a PHD in astronomy doesn't he, he's always just called um, you know the bloke with the curly hair.

Maybe it's to do with fame? If people are famous enough they become firstname surname irrespective of titles?

Anyway - interesting point for sure.

Bowlofbabel yes true at a conference I would expect consistency and formality in the introductions and the fact that doesn't happen is quite telling.

by the same token women even feminists are a part of society and many of us might fall into these traps without even realising it.

I'd send a letter back headed "Dear ManWriter".

I'm a dentist and I used to work in a husband and wife dental practice.

If patients wanted the male dentist they usually asked for Dr Dentist and the female Mrs Dentist- used to drive her (and the receptionist, who would politely point out that they were both Dr Dentist) nuts.

Do people really not use women’s professional titles? That’s baffling and shocking. I’m constantly amazed. I keep realising afresh how refreshingly un-sexist my upbringing was, I wouldn’t dream of this and would challenge anyone who failed to use a woman’s title. Outrageous.

Where I work we wouldn't for either a man or a woman unless they specifically requested it

Theres an article on the BBC’s Facebook page about just that ^.

I can’t bring myself to read the comments.

Actually that's not true. Intro at formal meeting, first name. Intro at conference, title.

south it was but a moment of levity.

I don't recall in my professional role being referred to or introduced as Ms X X except by a German colleague who always used everyone's titles (eg 'doctor professor Jones). He always seemed very stilted to me, but I understand that to be German etiquette. If titles are to be used they should be used for everyone. I prefer it when they are not used for anyone, and personally don't really use my surname either except in written letters and email signatures (where I don't use a title).

Is she not a lady or not a dentist that you object?

But it is relevant to use folk’s titles at work, surely? You want people to know each other’s qualifications etc. Unlike the Leave campaigners, I’m not sick of experts. I find them quite handy actually. Male or female.

OHHH did some mention LADIES? Flounces in with her big skirt.

On dentists
small handed dentist are they way to go . Your mouth is a small space after all
Also more likely to have better technique rather than relying on brute force.

On Ladies.
I am a feminist presenting as a lady. ;)

The problem with lady prefix is it has a similar ring to woman in woman driver ......
using “lady” when referring to professions—lady cop, lunch lady, cleaning lady—generally trivializes women’s work.

Woman dentist. Dentist that is a woman?

What if the Dentist is non binary would they be upset about the use of lady?

Minefield we should all just shut up and be quiet little ladies

I would point it out. It matters. They are educators and we need better for our children

Recalling a piece on R4 this week about female experts in the media ...must go back to it.

Hmmm for the Dr Germaine Greer example I wonder if it’s fame. I too struggle to think of parallels, Professor Brian Cox? Though often hear Liam Fox introduced only my name - but then Dr Fox sounds a bit odd anyway!

If I’m working with fellow scientists/docs day to day we are all introduced first time by our titles. Then we generally have the ‘oh no please call me..’ thing and as we work together we will be less formal.

If we then are introducing outside the group, or having a new person come in to do something they too and we will be introduced formally first time. It’s the polite and respectful thing to do.

Titles get dropped when you’ve established the working relationship. And that’s fine. What’s not fine is to introduce all the blokes as Dr etc and NONE of the women by their titles. And I have seen that happen a lot.

I’ve seen a female professor asked (not asked, told) to make the coffees in a meeting. Let’s say I had words after that one.

There’s a big thread on twitter right now with women who have a PHD updating their handles to reflect this.
It’s really interesting, most of them have been told they are boastful or arrogant for using their hard earned title! Think the # is inconvenientwoman or something similar.