Home Scandal and Gossip Sexism? Qantas Dr passenger offended when called ‘Miss’

Sexism? Qantas Dr passenger offended when called ‘Miss’

Christopher Koulouris: About author bio at bottom of article.
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Dr. Siobhan O’Dwer
Dr. Siobhan O’Dwer: A victim of sexism at the hands of Qantas?
Dr. Siobhan O’Dwer
Dr. Siobhan O’Dwer: A victim of sexism at the hands of Qantas?

Dr. Siobhan Dwyer a UK based Australian philosophy academic accuses Qantas Airlines of sexism after being called miss instead of Doctor during recent flight.

A female passenger with a Ph.d flying Australia’s Qantas airlines has found herself being trolled on social media after taking exception to being called ‘miss’ instead of ‘doctor,’ insisting that she was a victim of sexism. Or was she?

In a post since gone viral, Dr. Siobhan O’Dwyer took a dig at Qantas Airways after one of its flight attendants addressed her as ‘Miss O’Dwyer.’ A slight of hand that O’Dwer took great exception to. 

Posted O’Dwyer, ‘Hey @Qantas, my name is Dr O’Dwyer. My ticket says Dr O’Dwyer. Do not look at my ticket, look at me, look back at my ticket, decide it’s a typo, and call me Miss O’Dwyer. I did not spend 8 years at university to be called Miss’.

O’Dwyer is a senior lecturer in Aging and Family Care at the University of Exeter in the UK and received her doctor of philosophy degree in 2009, 

According to the University of Exeter in the UK, the school’s website lists her working as a senior lecturer in Aging and Family Care and receiving her doctor of philosophy degree in 2009.

Her post has since gone viral, garnering more than 8,700 likes and 4,800 comments, including dozens that point out she doesn’t deserve the lofty salutation often designated to ‘medical’ doctors. 

‘If you went to medical school you are Dr. O’Dwyer. If you have a PhD; you are Siobhan O’Dwyer PhD, & you have a ‘Doctorate Degree,” wrote @rofoutz. ‘You are not however a Doctor as understood by society & you shouldn’t feel free to steal the title claimed centuries ago by the medical profession.’

Another person, @HedShodd replied, ‘I have NEVER been even at a conference, at least in physics, where anyone insisted on being called ‘doctor’ or ‘professor’. Apparently those 8 years didn’t manage to turn you into a decent human being, Miss O’Dwyer.’

Another person, @MakaylaLouiseee, was empathetic toward the Qantas staff.

‘Oh dear, a busy flight attendant made a mistake because they were trying to get 300+ people onto a plane in a timely matter. But sure have a Sook on twitter because it fuels your ego,’ she wrote, referring to O’Dwyer grousing on social media. ‘You’re the kind of person that gives feminists a bad name. Go off sis.’

The hate mail prompted O’Dwyer to follow up with an explanation.

‘Copping so much flack for this tweet. This was not about my ego. It was about highlighting one of a thousand instances of sexism that women encounter every day. It’s not about the title, it’s about the fact that this wouldn’t have happened if I was a man,’ she wrote on Sunday.

Which is to wonder had this male author being confused as a ‘sir’ or even, ‘hey Mr.’ instead of ‘Dr’ (assuming I had a doctorate) on a Qantas airlines flight – would I have been offended or arrived at the view that I had been denigrated by staff who failed to observe my moral superiority as the master gender?

Needless to say, O’Dwyer’s response set the wheels in motion once again, albeit with more venom. 

‘Don’t think it’s got anything to do about being a woman in a mans world. Being a ‘Dr’ is a job title, it’s not your name,’ @Strop1 replied. ‘I never walked around demanding to be called Nurse Ray everywhere when I was working (retired now). You need to get your own self importance.’

The controversial back and forth reached heightened fervor when a supporter of the philosophy academic, Dr Mel Thomson wrote, ‘You have ALL OF THE SOLIDARITY on this issue.’

‘I’m first gen to finish high school (let alone get several degrees) in my family … I’ll be damned if some trolley dolly gets to decide what honorific I get called, FFS’.

Which led to the lifetime award response from one flight attendant, ‘Please don’t refer to us as trolley dollies.’

Adding, ‘We may not have completed a PhD however we are required by law 2 maintain quals (sic) that enable us to evacuate an aircraft in 90 secs, keep u alive in-flight, prevent hijacking, put out fires etc’.

To which another twitter user responded, ‘Whatever your intentions were in using the term, what you’ve done is remind working class women in service industries like me that your solidarity is only for women like you. Not only are we excluded, but you are more than comfortable when it’s at our expense.’

Which is to wonder does sexism only matter when women of certain egos, profession, status and income levels feel threatened and believe society getting ahead at their great expense.

Responding (indirectly) to the brouhaha, a Qantas spokesperson told Yahoo, ‘We are extremely proud of our cabin crew who respectfully serve our customers day in and day out and play a vital safety role,’

Adding, ‘Our crew treat all passengers with the utmost respect, regardless of age, gender, and occupation.’ 

If only some of the passengers also accorded the same respect as well….

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