Gen Z Ecologist Dr. Juliet Turner Faces Backlash for PhD Post

UPDATE: Dr. Juliet Turner, a 27-year-old ecologist, is making headlines after celebrating her recent Ph.D. achievement from the University of Oxford, only to face a wave of sexist backlash online. On November 14, 2023, Turner shared her triumph on social media, declaring, “You can call me Doctor,” but the response was shockingly negative.

Turner’s groundbreaking thesis, which focused on the evolution of cooperation in insects, earned her this prestigious title after four rigorous years of research. However, instead of receiving solely congratulatory messages, she was inundated with disparaging comments from online trolls questioning her life choices and claiming she was a failure for not having children.

In her now-viral post, which garnered over 51,000 likes, Turner expressed her excitement after successfully defending her thesis in the final viva exam. Yet, some men responded with hostility, attacking her academic pursuit instead of celebrating her success. One comment read: “You are 30 years old with no husband or kids—genetic dead end,” despite Turner being only 27.

The vitriol did not stop there. Many users, appearing under male usernames, suggested that Turner should have prioritized motherhood over her academic career, implying that she was wasting her potential. One user ominously noted, “If you follow an academic career, you will be unlikely to ever have or raise children.”

Despite the torrent of negativity, countless supporters rallied around Turner. She reflected on the unexpected nature of the backlash, 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.”

Turner emphasized the absurdity of the notion that pursuing a Ph.D. precludes motherhood, citing her own background in an academic family as proof that women can balance both. “I would have been perfectly happy to just keep reading and writing about insects and not raise these topics at all,” she stated.

This incident highlights a troubling trend in online discourse. A survey by Amnesty International revealed that 73 percent of Gen Z users in the U.K. have encountered misogynistic content online, with many believing such language is on the rise.

As Turner continues her work as a pollinator ecologist, she remains committed to engaging in applied conservation research and science communication. “It’s very nice to be working with real organisms again,” she noted, focusing on organic and regenerative farming projects across the U.K.

The ongoing dialogue around women’s roles in academia and societal expectations is more relevant than ever. Turner’s experience serves as a stark reminder of the challenges women face in both professional pursuits and public perception. As she puts it, “It’s a hard line to walk because, on one hand, you want to show that you are capable.”

With the conversation around women’s achievements and the backlash they often face intensifying, many are left wondering: how can society better support women like Dr. Turner in their academic and professional journeys?