No.PhD is not an end itself. It is a mean to climb to the ladder of achievement educationally, it may not even be a mean to financial breakthrough nor political breakthrough. Do you use PhD to buy from any market, transportation fares or what?.The ten richest personality in the world do not have a PhD paper.Let us realised that a PhD is not a key to breakthrough in this current dispensation

@ Okunola Lola John I only ask because the theory of DEI implies that there is an inequity and lack of diversity and inclusion, however, the cause is debated and often has the appearance of a social engineering policy, most often written by elitists that distinguish themselves as superior to others in how the world is viewed.

If DEI is legitimate, then all aspects of all of society should be subject to the same scrutiny, and its should not be predetermined to be a racial issue, but perhaps it is a superiority complex issue where elitists self-declare their intellectualism and superiority based on centralized and organized credentials based on a type of control found in centralized banking, centralized government, centralized education, etc.

Some of the world's greatest thinkers and teachers were persecuted, namely Jesus Christ, as well as many others, because of a non confirming viewpoint to the centralized power structures in place at the time.

We need to scrutinize all forms of legitimizing superiority in order to eliminate superiority if Equity, Inclusion and Diversity are to be achievable goals and outcomes

I would not say that is truth. PhD is a level of education anyone can achieve if they want to sacrifice to obtain it.

A terminal degree is often attained by those who lack prestige and 'elite' status, usually at great cost in terms of time, investment, and loss of revenue during academic and post-doc years. Aside from physicians and long tenured professors (near retirement), most people I know with terminal degrees are still within the middle and upper-middle class. Those who seek terminal degrees aren't typically doing it for clout - some specialty areas & personalities, of course - but for most it's pure passion for the field or subject, and a requirement to getting a 'seat at the table' to create desperately needed change or spur advancements.

In many areas it is the new requirement, or has already been mandated for future implementation, the terminal degree will be required of all clinical practitioners above frontline or entry level roles. Insurance companies are demanding more and more credentialing to justify approval, provision, and payment for services. Regulators want more education and training to ensure quality services, improve the odds of positive outcomes. First it was all RNs had to become BSN, then BSN needed to get their MSW. Physical Therapy was MPT level, now DPT is required for most jobs, especially leadership positions. Social work: BA/BSW, now it's MSW, LCSW preferred (wider scope of practice = more ROI), DSW highly desired/preferred for academic, senior leadership, and macro level work. Teachers were BA/BS, then BA/BS with licensure and special certifications, then many districts and states pushed for all teachers to obtain their MEd, and again, we see positions in senior leadership typically require a terminal degree.

When practitioners such as social workers and psychologists leave "the field" and transition to the academic world, we almost always take a significant loss in salary, obtaining the employer desired/required terminal degree is the best way to make up the difference and move you closer to your prior salary (but make no mistake, we almost never earn in an academic setting what we'd earn in other sectors). When it comes to breaking down the barriers and busting through doors, the doctorate is often what's necessary if we want to be the ones to dismantle the systems perpetuated by gatekeepers who likely are the elite - children of privilege, or those who have attained great wealth & prestige - and use their position to determine opportunities for advancement (ie: admission to programs); it's well established that those institutions are ruled by the upper echelons of the sociodemographic hierarchy.

In essence: the learner is at the mercy of the gatekeepers and while some legacy admissions and nepo grads exist at the doctoral level, for most of us, it's motivated and driven purely by passion for what we do. That said, as more of us from marginalized and/or low-income backgrounds complete our grad and post-grad, our children will be inclined to follow in our footsteps, which can lead to the perception of elitism when really, it's just modeled behavior and the protective factors instilled in children who receive the unconditional positive regard of an adult.

A PhD is a far cry from inequity and certainly not elite. Often the PhD is the beginning of (another) long journey. As someone who left practice to pursue academics, I can tell you that the blood, sweat and tears that go into the research process is daunting. I am in the midst of completing my PhD.

Anyone can research, anyone can choose academia, and anyone can choose to pursue a PhD. Rather than being inequitable, it should serve as a reminder to the degree holder that knowledge is to be shared.

I see more elitism and inequity in the CPA profession which I just exited after 20 years. I've also worked in academia. I can tell you that the professionalism. support, and collegiality is more evident in academics than within other sectors.

Fred Watkin, it's funny you mention that, because I was thinking this morning how I feel more supported and at ease in academica than I ever felt in healthcare - and I loved working frontline. Loved it, but the field, as people are seeing more clearly each day, is brutal and the workplace is (more often than not) toxic. There is a lot of trauma associated with a career in healthcare and in my experience, most is inflicted by 'leadership', usually driven by profits. Yes, there are many frustrations working in within a bureaucracy, but within my institution, especially within my department, I feel overwhelmingly supported, and that's worth the pay cut and legislative haggling.

An increase in knowledge is always a step in the right direction, hence acquiring a PHD is always an asset.