A doctor has accused the BBC of sexism after she was called by her first name in an interview.
The other guest who appeared alongside her was addressed using his title more often than she was, Dr Jennifer Rudd said.
Dr Rudd, a chemist at Swansea University, appeared alongside Dr Rupert Read, a spokesman for Extinction Rebellion.
They were interviewed by BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Stephen Nolan.
Dr Rudd said: ‘In the heat of the moment it was hard to notice how I was being addressed as I was focusing on getting my words out and being coherent.
‘I noticed it specifically at the end when Nolan said “Dr Read it’s been nice talking to you. Jennifer thanks as well”.
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#everydaysexism
Just did a @5liveSport interview with Stephen Nolan. @GreenRupertRead got referred to repeatedly as Dr Read. Despite being introduced as "Dr Jennifer Rudd" I repeatedly got referred to as "jennifer"
Thanks for that.— Dr Jennifer Rudd (@jruddchemist) April 21, 2019
‘I listened to the interview after I was finished and noticed that every time or almost every time I was referred to as Jennifer and Rupert referred to as Dr Read.
‘It was really frustrating.’
It happened on Easter Sunday’s Stephen Nolan Show.
On Twitter, she labelled the incident ‘everyday sexism’ and said it happened frequently to women in academia.
Underneath her initial post, she added: ‘If both are referred to as first name it’s not a problem.
‘If both are referred to as Dr it doesn’t bother me. However, when one is and one isn’t there is an imbalance.
‘Using a title can also be a mark of respect. Is one any less deserving of respect than the other?’
Alongside her academic work, Dr Rudd takes part in Recycling Carbon – an outreach event designed to encourage the general public to consider climate change.
That's fine. If both are referred to as first name it's not a problem. If both are referred to as Dr it doesn't bother me. However, when one is and one isn't there is an imbalance.
Using a title can also be a mark of respect. Is one any less deserving of respect than the other?— Dr Jennifer Rudd (@jruddchemist) April 22, 2019
She obtained her degree in Chemistry from the University of York before completing her PhD in Basel, Switzerland.
After that, she lived in North Carolina, USA, where she was a Swiss National Science Foundation Mobility Fellow.
She then had a two-year career break for parenting before starting her current position at Swansea University.
Dr Claire Surr, professor of Dementia Studies at Leeds Beckett University, said BBC employees should undergo training.
On Twitter, she posted: ‘This kind of #everydaysexism has to stop and the media companies must speak to and train their employees on unconscious (or conscious!) bias when this happens.
‘Why do women still not get the same respect men do?’
Professor Alice Roberts, of the University of Birmingham added: ‘Appalling. (I’ve had years of being referred to as ‘Dr Alice’ rather than Prof Roberts).’
A BBC spokesman said: ‘Both academics were introduced by their full titles at the start of the discussion and both were referred to by their first names numerous times.
‘Both should have been referred to in the same style at all times.’
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