Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Michelle Obama Supports Jill Biden over "Dr." Controversy


Mon 14 Dec 2020 | 07:28 PM
Rana Atef

Former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama released a supportive statement to first lady to be Jill Biden.

Biden's title as "Dr. Jill Biden" has stirred an uproar after Wallstreet Journal's Joseph Epstein opposed Biden's usage of "Dr." title.

Obama said: "For eight years, I saw Dr. Jill Biden do what a lot of professional women do—successfully manage more than one responsibility at a time, from her teaching duties to her official obligations in the White House to her roles as a mother, wife, and friend."

"And right now, we’re all seeing what also happens to so many professional women, whether their titles are Dr., Ms., Mrs., or even First Lady," she added.

The former first lady continued, "She will be a terrific role model not just for young girls but for all of us, wearing her accomplishments with grace, good humor, and yes, pride."

https://www.facebook.com/michelleobama/posts/10164666011570578

Also, former US first lady Hillary Clinton expressed, "Her name is Dr. Jill Biden. Get used to it."

https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/status/1338169431722250243

Furthermore, this article touched upon a sensitive issue related to the concept of "sexism" in the American educational systems.

Therefore, Doug Emhoff, the upcoming US Vice President Kamala Harris' husband, commented, "She is an inspiration to me, to her students, and to Americans across this country. This story would never have been written about a man."

https://twitter.com/DouglasEmhoff/status/1337848812610568193

Two days ago, Wall Street Journal Joseph Epstein published an op-ed article criticizing next President-elect Joe Biden’s wife, Dr. Jill Biden’s use of the title “doctor”.

The article “Is There a Doctor in the White House? Not if You Need an M.D.” by Epstein, an emeritus lecturer of English at Northwestern University, said: “Dr. Jill Biden’ sounds and feels fraudulent, not to say a touch comic,” addressing Biden’s wife as “Madame First Lady—Mrs. Biden—Jill—kiddo.”

“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,’” Epstein wrote. “A wise man once said that no one should call himself ‘Dr.’ unless he has delivered a child.”

“Think about it, Dr. Jill, and forthwith drop the doc,” he added.