Doctor flies into rage after cabin crew call her ‘Miss’

A BRITISH academic has criticised an airline for addressing her as Miss instead of Doctor, declaring in public: “I didn’t spend eight years in medical school to be called Miss”.

Dr Siobhan O’dwyer vented her frustration at Qantas staff on a flight and later said it was an example of a “thousand instances of sexism” that women encounter. Flying to her native Australia, the University of Exeter lecturer tweeted: “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 eight years at university to be called Miss.”

The post sparked a huge debate on social media in which Dr O’dwyer received both support and criticism.

She later posted another tweet which read: “Copping so much flak for this tweet … it’s not about the title, it’s about the fact that this wouldn’t have happened if I was a man.”

Dr O’dwyer’s Twitter profile states she is an expert in family care, ageing, suicide and homicide. A fellow academic, Dr Mel Thomson, also from Australia, told her: “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.” Dr Thomson has since taken her Twitter account private.

But some accused Dr O’dwyer of overreacting. Tim Almond told her: “I have two friends who are non-medical doctors. I didn’t find out for years. Outside of professional conferences they don’t use it.”

Another snapped: “I don’t believe anyone is obliged to call you doctor. Did you do your degree to learn or get a title?” Jennifer Stone tweeted: “I’d understand if you were complaining about being called Miss instead of Ms but an expectation to use professional titles in everyday life smacks of elitism … this communicates superiority and privilege – why else use them?”

Qantas said it stood by the professionalism of the cabin crew. A spokesman said: “Our cabin crew respectfully serve our customers day in and day out.”