British women are increasingly dominating higher education, but their online celebrations of academic achievement are triggering disturbing waves of misogynistic backlash from men struggling to accept this societal shift.
The Oxford PhD that ignited digital fury
Last week, Dr Juliet Turner, an ecologist and evolutionary biologist, proudly announced on X that she had successfully defended her PhD thesis at Oxford University after four years of study. Rather than receiving congratulations, her post became the target of vicious online abuse.
Richard Cooper, author of 'The Unplugged Alpha', reshared Dr Turner's announcement with the caption: 'Just look at the degree on that chick' — No man ever.' This single tweet unleashed a torrent of misogynistic comments questioning her credentials, accusing her of seeking male attention, and attacking her personal life.
One user, @CommieCarney, wrote: 'Congrats on successfully becoming a biologist, but failing at biology. You are 30 years old with no husband or kids — a genetic dead end.' Another, @NormalPerson5D0, added: 'Them eggs aren't getting any younger.'
Academic sisterhood fights back
In response to the abuse, Dr Daisy Dixon, a philosopher of art and aesthetics at Cardiff University, transformed Cooper's derogatory comment into a positive movement. She launched the 'just look at the degree on that chick' trend, encouraging women to showcase their academic achievements.
Hundreds of female academics and graduates participated, sharing graduation photos and celebrating their hard-earned qualifications. Musician and composer Aalisha joined the trend, proudly displaying her two Bachelor degrees from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master's from NYU.
'I wanted to get involved because the source of the trend was so hilariously ridiculous to me,' Aalisha told Metro. 'Misogyny isn't surprising, but it's funny to see how far backwards some people still are.'
Why successful women trigger male insecurity
The statistics reveal a clear educational gender gap. In 2022, among 25 to 29-year-olds, 44% of women had completed bachelor's degrees compared to only 35% of men. This trend of women outpacing men in academia has been developing for decades.
Sociologist and gender studies expert Dr Stephen Whitehead explained to Metro that the backlash isn't really about the PhDs themselves. 'They symbolise independence, choice and control,' he said. 'These men fear women who no longer depend on them; they feel inferior to women who are confident, accomplished and in command of their own lives.'
Dr Whitehead noted that hostility once directed primarily at feminists has widened to include almost all women demonstrating what he calls 'independent femininity', often extending to LGBTQ+ people as well.
Broader implications for society
The online abuse coincides with concerning research about attitudes among young men. A recent survey presented to Parliament revealed that 32% of boys do not think women's rights are very important. The study, which polled 1,032 boys across 37 British schools, also found that 79% of participants were unclear about what masculinity means.
Dr Dixon expressed little surprise at the backlash, noting that women regularly face such attitudes. 'We wake up to rape threats, men commenting on and 'predicting' our fertility levels, shaming us if we don't have children,' she told Metro.
Dr Whitehead offered a stark prediction for men who engage in such behaviour: 'Women will not knowingly engage with men who demean, threaten or abuse them, so these male fundamentalists are isolating themselves. If they continue on this trajectory, their future relationships are likely to be with AI companions, not real women.'
The incident serves as another reminder of the challenging environment women navigate daily, even as they achieve remarkable academic and professional success.
