It's unfortunate that an MFA is considered a masters level degree as the credit hours, time commitment and coursework is typically closer to a doctorate than to an MA.

Agreed. I considered the MFA after undergrad and determined with the time commitment I might as well study law or medicine (I did neither). Instead I ended up in steady tech writing jobs and will finish my MAM in May. Nine more interviews, two more chapters and it's mine! Then I want to enter a PhD program, and will definitely use Dr.

It's unfortunate that an MFA is considered a masters level degree as the credit hours, time commitment and coursework is typically closer to a doctorate than to an MA.

It was always a sore spot with me that almost all the classes I took in my major (for a BS in Graphic Design, though this was true for Fine Art majors seeking BAs as well) were 2 hours per credit hour. I get that the class lengths were necessary to teach the subject, but I wish they'd just made Fine Art a 145- or 150-hour major like Engineering instead of under-valuing our college's coursework in comparison to basics and electives.

ita, this may sound familiar to you: [link] (video with sound)

It took Bob seven years of constant work to complete his PhD. Asking to be called something in a social situation may be awkward, but he has certainly earned the right to be thought of as the equivalent to someone who finished medical school.

Seriously. I think the average years for a MA + PhD in the humanities is 8-9 years for men and 10-11 for women.

Why does it take longer for women to achieve PhD than men?

I assume children and caregiving are a big part of that.

For that matter I know medical doctors who not only don't use "Doctor" in social situations, but go out of the way to conceal that they are medical doctors in social situations. Avoiding being asked for free medical advice. (Lawyers have this problem too, but are probably less shy about handing out their card, and saying "This is the number to call for an appointment.")

I think the average years for a MA + PhD in the humanities is 8-9 years for men and 10-11 for women.

That doesn't include your undergrad?

Over here it's three years, and you can apply for funding for a fourth year, but you better be able to prove that the fourth year will have it finished, and better than if you'd done it in three.

That doesn't include your undergrad?

Nope. There's generally 3 years of coursework (2 years for the M.A. and 1 for the Ph.D), 1+ years of research/field work, 1+ years of writing. Plus, there's usually a bunch of teaching thrown in there. Coursework is not the problem with finishing a Ph.D., it's finding time and money for necessary research and writing. I certainly don't know anyone who did it in fewer than 6 years.

I don't know about the UK, but the traditional thesis in France is not equivalent to what you have to produce here, i.e., essentially a book that will be published 4-5 years after defense.

I assume children and caregiving are a big part of that.

Yes. At least in my case, plus a major job change, a few moves, divorce--re-marriage. Typical life adventures on the path to greatness.