Dr. Juliet Turner Faces Misogyny After PhD Announcement

UPDATE: Dr. Juliet Turner, a 27-year-old ecologist, is facing a wave of misogynistic backlash following her recent Ph.D. achievement from the University of Oxford, the world’s top-ranked university. After announcing on social media that she successfully defended her thesis on the evolution of cooperation in insects, Turner was met with an avalanche of sexist comments, revealing deep-seated biases against women in academia.

On November 14, 2023, Turner posted a celebratory message on her account, @juliet_turner6, stating: “I passed my viva exam! After ~4 years of research, I successfully defended my thesis. You can call me Doctor.” The post garnered over 51,000 likes but was quickly overshadowed by a torrent of derogatory remarks from online trolls.

One user crudely remarked on Turner’s academic success, questioning her personal life choices, stating: “30 years old and zero kids. Her ancestors are ashamed of her.” Another comment read, “You are 30 years old with no husband or kids—genetic dead end,” despite Turner being just 27. Such sentiments reflect an alarming trend in online misogyny, with a recent survey from Amnesty International indicating that 73 percent of Gen Z respondents in the U.K. have witnessed misogynistic content online.

Turner expressed her shock at the scale of the online harassment, stating, “Every time I open the app, I’m flooded by new posts of strangers weighing in on either the validity of my thesis topic, the health of my eggs, or the wisdom of my life choices! Very weird.” She noted that while she expected congratulations, the vitriol was unexpected and disheartening.

Despite the negativity, many social media users rallied in support of Turner, with some calling the responses “pure jealousy.” Turner herself voiced a crucial point: “The idea that doing a Ph.D. means you probably won’t have children is odd. I come from an academic family myself, so I’m living proof that academics are capable of self-replication!”

This incident highlights a troubling reality for women in STEM fields, where personal life choices often become public fodder. Turner acknowledged that while she hasn’t personally faced these biases in her academic career, managing pregnancy and maternity leave poses challenges unique to women in research roles.

As she transitions into work as a pollinator ecologist, Turner remains focused on her research, stating, “It’s nice to do this kind of applied conservation research.” She emphasized the importance of engaging with real organisms, contributing to projects on organic and regenerative farming across the U.K.

This ongoing situation serves as a reminder of the barriers women face in pursuing academic success. As the conversation around gender equality in STEM continues, Turner’s experience sheds light on the urgent need to address misogyny and support women in their professional aspirations.

What happens next? Turner’s story is capturing the attention of a global audience, igniting discussions about the treatment of women in academia. As the online discourse evolves, the focus will remain on how society can better support women like Turner in their groundbreaking research efforts.