So I’m young and I look younger (I could pass for a high school junior). I graduated from vet school 1 year ago. I have my doctorate and am a doctor. My title is Dr. X. I answer the phone with Hi, you’ve reached Dr. X’, sign my emails that way, all my legal documents have my title when appropriate as well. In a non-social setting I always use Dr. X including work (at work all the vets go by Dr last name).

I am just starting the first year of my residency (I am specializing). Technically I am a student again, but I am in charge of interns (new grad veterinarians- also doctors) and vet students. Interns and residents are licensed veterinarians- we can diagnose, treat, prescribe medications, perform surgery, etc just like any other veterinarian. We are simply doing additional training after becoming vets in order to specialize- like human residents (an intern for us is like a first year resident in human med).

Well I was explaining this to my boyfriends family (again) and automatically I’m back to being called a vet student. They will introduce as a vet student to their friends too. And then I look like an ass when I correct them (I try to avoid it, but when someone asks what school or what year I’m not going to lie). Out in public, in professional settings where people call you miss/mrs/mr/doctor last name I ALWAYS introduce myself as Dr. X. Then these people go straight to calling me Miss X (like you caught my not-so-easy last name but not the Dr?) At work I’ve had clients ask for my first name, I don’t give it. I kindly say, at work I go by Dr. X please. But, they push. I had one client find my first name and use it. Ive had clients call me the technician and argue that I can’t be the vet. Now nothing wrong with being a tech, they’re vital to our hospitals, but I am not one. I have two four year degrees, not a two year diploma, and my title is Dr. There is a difference.

I’ve noticed it’s most often men that do this, but women do it too (and they’re usually nastier about it for some reason). Today, and what really got me frustrated with everything, I was talking to someone (on the phone) and we were discussing our jobs. I repeatedly indicated that I was a graduated veterinarian. I’d called myself a doctor at least once as well. Yet, this person goes right to calling me a vet student. I corrected them and they said ‘oh well that’s the same thing as a resident- you’re not a real doctor.’ So the ‘not a real doctor’ is a sore point, I have family (not close to them now) who do this to me and it hurts. Anyways, I corrected him again and ended the conversation.

I worked so freaking hard to get my degree. I earned the title of Dr. And the letters DVM behind my name. I was raised to call people by their title or whatever name they preferred. In a business setting I always refer to the person that way too, even if I call them by their first name at work. It’s about respect. I just feel like because I’m young and a woman people don’t give me the respect I’m due and think it doesn’t matter. I do my best to stand up for myself and demand the respect I’m due. But it’s exhausting. I’ve been told if I’m tired of it just stop correcting people, but I don’t want to do that either. So are there any other women out there who deal with this kind of thing? I know my mum did years ago in the workforce, but she was part of a big push of women into her field whereas my profession has been 85% female for the last 15 years. I’m just frustrated with it all today.