tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post681441384158973571..comments2024-03-25T02:33:41.590-05:00Comments on FemaleScienceProfessor: Just Call Me FFemale Science Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-59632036052379632702012-09-22T05:11:43.810-05:002012-09-22T05:11:43.810-05:00I have another problem/ question.
I’m a 45 years ...I have another problem/ question. <br />I’m a 45 years old specialist in public relations, a women, in a rather big factory (1500 employees) working in Eastern Europe.<br />I rarely meet the CEO and other executives, but when I do salute them, with some exception, two of the women executives address me by my first name although I continue to call them “director second name”. I don’ fell comfortable because we are the same age and they consider normal to address me on my first name because at work they are superior and me, the inferior, not a colleague worker. I would like to address this but how? I believe that using the first or the second name should be agreed upon by both parts, not imposed without consent by the will of the higher in rank at work.<br />What do you think I could do?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-36542057439992668732012-02-12T14:09:00.170-06:002012-02-12T14:09:00.170-06:00It is common for female professors to be called Mi...It is common for female professors to be called Miss or Ms and not Dr. It upsets me that the Chronicle of Higher education uses Mr and Ms (and in a recent article used Ms for a female professor and Dr for a male professor). If I am to be distinguished, I'd rather be distinguished by education than by gender. This reinforces gender norms. As most educated people know, there are more than TWO genders--not everyone is comfortable being labeled male or female. Why not use M for an address? Or Dr.shoebuddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13971208357433101284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-24394330040736343282009-01-15T19:37:00.000-06:002009-01-15T19:37:00.000-06:00It's better to err on the side of being respectful...It's better to err on the side of being respectful rather than disrespectful, so what you are doing is fine.Female Science Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-23960678313028876972009-01-15T18:27:00.000-06:002009-01-15T18:27:00.000-06:00I am a graduate student in an English-speaking Can...I am a graduate student in an English-speaking Canadian university. I come from the French system, where it is unacceptable for a student to be on a first name basis with a professor (at least, not until a very long time, and after the professor has explicitly asked for first names to be used). I always refer to my professors as 'professor soand so', or, in written form, 'prof. soandso'. Gender is irrelevant. I never use "doctor", unless I notice that the person has a PhD but is not a professor or presents himself as such (usually professors from other academic traditions). <BR/><BR/>I have noticed that I am the only one of the graduate students who does not call her professors by the first name only. Some even use a diminutive of their first name. <BR/><BR/>My colleagues and professors might be accepting this as an unfortunate idiosyncrasy... but I do not want to be inappropriate or nagging. I hope that what I am doing is acceptable in the English-speaking academic world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-73089870241126947792009-01-15T17:17:00.000-06:002009-01-15T17:17:00.000-06:00Scientista,I'm not a fan of what your prof said. ...Scientista,<BR/><BR/>I'm not a fan of what your prof said. It has condescending, sexist tones. I agree with some of the others, however, that you should not be texting in class. If the class is boring, don't go or leave. Give the professor a bad evaluation or if it's a major concern, raise it with the department/faculty. <BR/><BR/>I explicitely tell my students to not use the internet or their cell phones (communication devices) in class. It's distracting to me and other students and it also sends the signal that ignoring or disrespecting the professor is acceptable.PGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160883537054763513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-31838742703177549202009-01-15T11:32:00.000-06:002009-01-15T11:32:00.000-06:00I am a female faculty at a research university. I ...I am a female faculty at a research university. I was reminded of this post as I read an email from a student today. It was regarding a course that I co-teach with a male faculty colleague. The email was addressed to Dr. Male Professor and 'my first name'. I have never met the student and we are definitely not on first name basis,although I do prefer the 1st name being used by students in my courses and research lab. Regardless, I had to hold myself back from signing my response: Dr. Female PhD.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-44529949820626299742009-01-14T23:01:00.000-06:002009-01-14T23:01:00.000-06:00I'm constitutionally incapable of calling professo...I'm constitutionally incapable of calling professors by their first names (or Mr./Ms.); my mother was a student, first undergrad and then grad, during my formative years and went on to become an adjunct. Since she was of a generation that still pretended first names didn't exist, despite being in the same age range as her professors at the time, she still used Dr./Professor all the way through grad school.<BR/><BR/>Now I'm at a community college where nearly all the faculty have terminal master's degrees and virtually every student feels free to call the professors by their first names. I still can't do it. It's "Professor Soandso" - at least until I graduate.quasarpulsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08762550806982089851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-60471364915714817602009-01-14T13:33:00.000-06:002009-01-14T13:33:00.000-06:00If it is a large class, I don't care if students e...If it is a large class, I don't care if students email/text during my class. If it is less than 10 students or so, then I find it distracting to the group, but this isn't a problem in larger groups. <BR/><BR/>As long as there are no rings or beeps, then I don't care. Rings and beeps I find wildly unacceptable, and am likely to make a scene about.<BR/><BR/>They way I see it, as long as they aren't disrupting the lecture for others, then it is up to them how they use the lectures or fail to use the lectures.yoliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05377530393720341372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-63775326811689975862009-01-13T23:19:00.000-06:002009-01-13T23:19:00.000-06:00I'm comfortable calling my supervisor by his first...I'm comfortable calling my supervisor by his first name, but I am sometimes a little worried calling other profs in my university by their first names (especially if they are Very Important). I can understand avoiding a first name basis at first, but I would never ever call someone Mrs, Ms or Mr. Maybe there should be a requirement for every first year course to include a short section on academic etiquette. Apparently appealing to common sense doesn't work.Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02264848674807433431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-6621602342818945332009-01-13T21:56:00.000-06:002009-01-13T21:56:00.000-06:00I give the same "I will answer it" warning if the ...I give the same "I will answer it" warning if the class is big enough (say over 50).<BR/><BR/>I actually got to do so once. But only once :-).Ewanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15587749873205076612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-51868991498427110962009-01-13T18:36:00.000-06:002009-01-13T18:36:00.000-06:00I did a high school exchange in Portugal, where te...I did a high school exchange in Portugal, where teachers are referred to as Profesor/profesora. Some of the teachers got the shortened version 'Stor or 'Stora. At my undergrad, I was on a first name basis with about half the faculty, and I found my mouth often wanted some brief way to imply the respect of the title without giving up the casualness. In retrospect, 'Stora! is probably only a half step up from Yo.Sandlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06599700488072968433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-22075133077193280242009-01-13T11:07:00.000-06:002009-01-13T11:07:00.000-06:00as a grad student, i daydream about my partner say...as a grad student, i daydream about my partner saying "i'd like to introduce you to my wife, dr. gradstudent", and then i get to say "please, call me firstname". i think that the hard work, effort, and time that's put into a doctorate warrants at least SOME attention.<BR/><BR/>as for emailing during class - i think it's one of the rudest things possible, no matter how boring the lecture. yes, the comment was inappropriate, but i think on par with the disrespect that accompanies emailing during class.daisy maehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348480187062396824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-76069979041630439202009-01-13T10:08:00.000-06:002009-01-13T10:08:00.000-06:00My other half checked the "Dr." box on the form wh...My other half checked the "Dr." box on the form when he signed himself up for phone service (he's a post-doc).<BR/><BR/>Now he gets several unsolicited calls per day (at home!) from people making bids to supply the office furniture, fax machines, etc. for his "new practice".Ambivalent Academichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05908454781195782927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-43596054726957193892009-01-13T08:55:00.000-06:002009-01-13T08:55:00.000-06:00I got my PhD in a department where all the profess...I got my PhD in a department where all the professors and grad students called each other by first names, and the same was true all through my postdoc years. However, I interviewed for a faculty job at a place where the norm was for faculty to refer to one another as Dr. Soandso. The first time I returned a call and asked for the chair by first name I got quite the frosty reception until they realized I was a faculty candidate. I was pretty embarrassed, but in my field this is unusual among colleagues. It was one of the things that made me not want to work in that department.<BR/><BR/>Now that I do have a faculty job (elsewhere), I've been somewhat surprised by the number of grad students who have trouble calling me by my first name -- many of them seem to have been taught it's disrespectful. It doesn't help that we don't have a consistent department "policy"; some of my colleagues still want to be called "Dr.", so it can be hard for the students to switch back and forth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-85649045452472156742009-01-13T08:47:00.000-06:002009-01-13T08:47:00.000-06:00Scientista,Perhaps he assumed that, since you were...Scientista,<BR/><BR/>Perhaps he assumed that, since you were emailing during his lecture, the message must have been lecture-related. However, since the class is soooo boring, and he probably knows that, he figured you must have been emailing about his shirt since that would be the only important topic left to warrant an email during lecture.<BR/><BR/>On a more serious note... I tell my students that it is rude to have a phone on during class. I also tell my students that if their phone rings during my lecture, I get to answer it. If they are texting, I get to read it and respond. I haven't been forced to do either yet... I guess the threat is enough to make they all put their phones on silent mode and refrain from texting.<BR/><BR/>Dr SamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-38026502298128386452009-01-13T08:14:00.000-06:002009-01-13T08:14:00.000-06:00Rant: I detest the use of titles, because in my op...Rant: I <I>detest</I> the use of titles, because in my opinion they ruin communication between people. I'm really glad that despite my stay in Germany I can call my professor by his first name- most profs here insist on 'dr.', 'prof.', 'prof. dr.' or even 'dr, dr.' (when they have an MD and a PhD). First names are mostly out. <BR/>I really think that this hinders communication, especially between a grad student and a professor. I think that if you force grad students to call you 'dr' or 'prof', you create a barrier which will hinder brainstorms and won't allow an equal input of both parties, as one 'talks up' and the other 'talks down'. <BR/>However, this comes together with the much German attitude of literally doing what the person who's 'above' you tells you to do and not ask questions- this is an attitude that probably works in the army, but not in science...<BR/>/rant over.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-8544846317465956622009-01-12T23:42:00.000-06:002009-01-12T23:42:00.000-06:00Scientista,What is rude is emailing during a lectu...Scientista,<BR/><BR/>What is rude is emailing during a lecture. His comment was sarcastic, end of story. If you dislike his lectures that much (or they truly are repeats) then get out of his class and get the notes.<BR/><BR/>Me? I just stop my lecture and stare at the student until he or she puts the Blackberry away.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-85217538344265276402009-01-12T22:26:00.000-06:002009-01-12T22:26:00.000-06:00I wonder... how many people *do* "use their doctor...I wonder... how many people *do* "use their doctor"? My fellow grad students and I have occasionally played around with the question of whether or not we would want to (should the opportunity ever present itself), and we're about evenly divided on the issue. Some want to use it because they want recognition for all the hard work required to earn their PhD, while others don't because they think it's misleading -- that a "doctor" is someone who heals people. (Plus, there seems to be a string of stories floating around about PhDs paralyzed when they are turned to during medical emergencies.) Wish I could take an FSP-style poll on this question!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-24424722657887599082009-01-12T21:24:00.000-06:002009-01-12T21:24:00.000-06:00When I got my PhD I had a LOT of people (not peopl...When I got my PhD I had a LOT of people (not people I work with, but family and friends) ask me if I was going to "use my doctor". And, they seemed really thrown when I said yes, as if it was pretentious or something. I told them now that I've published and am starting to establish myself, I'm not about to go change my last name, so I am I supposed to go as "Miss MaidenName" for the rest of my life? most of them hadn't considered not changing their names, so then they were doubly thrown and had no good answer.<BR/><BR/>The whole thing has made me feel so self-conscious about the possibility of being called doctor in every-day life that I'm paralyzed when faced with a series of check-boxes on a form, which makes me kind of sad. These comments at least give a little idea of what some people do...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-61312486462503106322009-01-12T21:20:00.000-06:002009-01-12T21:20:00.000-06:00Dear FSP,Really? The email is the part that troubl...Dear FSP,<BR/><BR/>Really? The email is the part that troubles you? His comment, not so much?<BR/><BR/>Besides, he was lecturing about something totally asinine... If profs wants students to actively listen, they should not repeat the same lectures as A) their colleagues and B) as the class they taught last semester.Scientistahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704508681924969411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-1754694751199105872009-01-12T20:51:00.000-06:002009-01-12T20:51:00.000-06:00You were sending an email during his lecture?You were sending an email during his lecture?Female Science Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-12658114785970621392009-01-12T20:42:00.000-06:002009-01-12T20:42:00.000-06:00I call all of my profs by their first name. We are...I call all of my profs by their first name. We are all adults, and if your first name happens to be Steve, why should I not call you Steve? I don't think that my policy lacks respect: man or woman, they are called by their first name and they know that I do it to everyone, so it does not come across as impolite. <BR/><BR/>One of my profs, let's call him B, said something really inappropriate in class the other day that made me think of this blog. I was responding to an email on my Blackberry (in fact writing to another prof) during his lecture, and he comes next to me as he handing out a reading assignment and says "What, you're writing to your girlfriends to tell them how attractive the shirt I'm wearing today is?". I found that really rude: what, because I am a girl, the only subject of my emails can be boys, and in particular, him? <BR/><BR/>Am I overreacting or is that as inappropriate and sexist as I perceive it to be?Scientistahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704508681924969411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-44111451735084881032009-01-12T18:32:00.000-06:002009-01-12T18:32:00.000-06:00Occasionally my students slip and accidently call ...Occasionally my students slip and accidently call me "Mrs." For every five times this happens to me, it only happens once to my male colleagues. I know why. They aren't consciously being sexist, but it still is.Unbalanced Reactionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13407339711183651108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-12035465635076374522009-01-12T17:20:00.000-06:002009-01-12T17:20:00.000-06:00I am a female assistant professor in Engineering a...I am a female assistant professor in Engineering and I have rarely if ever been called Mrs/Ms/Miss, in person or via email. Maybe our school has smarter students?:))Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-27037110540294660362009-01-12T16:30:00.000-06:002009-01-12T16:30:00.000-06:00Some of my female colleagues and I have been able ...Some of my female colleagues and I have been able to conduct informal research on this by comparing the frequency with which we and our professor husbands are referred to by first name or as Ms/Mrs/Miss/Mr. It rarely if ever happens with the men but happens to the females all the time. I finally took to not putting my first name on my syllabus, which somewhat decreased emails that addressed me by my first name. I still got plenty of Mrs., Miss, Ms emails, though. For some reason, the Miss and Ms. irk me the most. When done in person, it always seems to sound so whiny, and I imagine the students as second graders tattling on a fellow student. <BR/><BR/>FPS notes that her email signature contains her accurate title, etc. I have never found that to be successful. I have even responded to students by signing my email Professor x and they typically replay again with their inaccurate reference. My assumption is that if you are too clueless to understand your female professors are professors with doctorates, you are too dense to make note of a signature.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com