OPINION: Educated women owe insecure men nothing

A Wall Street Journal article written by Joseph Epstein last Friday has once again reminded our country of the age-old idea that educated women owe insecure men, well, anything. The controversy began after Epstein, who holds a bachelor’s degree, urged First Lady-elect Dr. Jill Biden to drop the “Dr.” in her title because she holds a doctorate degree in education. 

“Madame First Lady—Mrs. Biden—Jill—kiddo,” Epstein begins the dramatic and utterly ridiculous column. “Your degree is, I believe, an Ed.D., a doctor of education, earned at the University of Delaware through a dissertation with the unpromising title ‘Student Retention at the Community College Level: Meeting Students’ Needs.’ A wise man once said that no one should call himself “Dr.” unless he has delivered a child.”

Dr. Biden, seemingly aware that she does not owe the world and all of its men intimidated by women more successful than them, responded to the article with a single tweet, reassuring that we will create a world in which “…the accomplishments of our daughters will be celebrated, rather than diminished.” 

Dr. Biden has earned her title the same way MPS’ Superintendent Dr. Everly has earned her title after putting years into the highest studies of education. Educated women do not deserve to be disrespected as such after their obvious efforts towards the common good and the students of tomorrow. Women, no matter their profession, deserve to take up space and exist outside of cookie cutter traditions wrapped in misogyny. Too often, women are not taken seriously because the world is afraid of women that do not bow down to men who need some sort of validation for their lack of fulfillment. We have seen this with Governor Whitmer, we have seen this with Malala Yousafzai, we have seen this with Serena Williams, and now we are seeing this with our future First Lady. 

As this altercation continues as a reminder that educated women do not have to prove themselves in order to be respected, let it also serve as a reminder that intersectionality in feminism is just as important as feminism itself. If your feminism doesn’t include educated women, uneducated women, women of color, undocumented women, queer women, low income women, and all else, your feminism means nothing. We are the global majority.