Titles

What is the power of a word?  We are all members of the human race, but as adults, we sometimes have the need to use a title.  Dr, Office, Judge…

I have earned the title of doctor, but generally, don’t use it in situations outside of work.  I also generally don’t use it with other professionals as I don’t feel the need to “compare degrees.”  As soon as someone specifies a title the interaction automatically takes on a different tone – more formal, more intimidating.  I find this is rarely helpful in most situations.

Perhaps as a woman, I don’t feel like I should be placing myself above another human being like that.  Perhaps as a woman, I see that forcing respect based on a title means that you don’t really have it.  It’s an odd place I find myself in, where woman are not respected even with a title.  I don’t really know.  It seems to be another game that we play with social conventions.

I’ll have to think on this some more…