Names and Careers

[east93]

Amen. Amen.

Girls are girls for a reason. To suggest that a "girly" "feminine" name is not good enough, is to say that girls aren't good enough as girls. That they have to assume a masculine overcoat in order to be good enough. Which is complete irony for a feminist to do.

[east93]

As much as I hate to say this, names don't matter. It's true. They don't. The only way they matter is that we link our identities to them.

I have to disagree. Names do matter.
They're the first impression on a resume.
When an HR is given 200 resumes to go through, and has to get them down to 6, after the first several dozen; when everyone left is just as qualified, they start picking at the smallest tiniest flaw in order to get it down to 6.
And names are most definitely a part of it. I've read this, and been told this by employers who've done it themselves.

Names definitely do matter.
The book Freakonomics has a chapter on it.

[thetxbelle]

I have to disagree. Names do matter.
They're the first impression on a resume.
When an HR is given 200 resumes to go through, and has to get them down to 6, after the first several dozen; when everyone left is just as qualified, they start picking at the smallest tiniest flaw in order to get it down to 6.
And names are most definitely a part of it. I've read this, and been told this by employers who've done it themselves.

Names definitely do matter.
The book Freakonomics has a chapter on it.

Agreed. I know this could open a whole new can of worms but it's my opinion that when saying "Can you picture Judge ___ or President ___" we arent thinking about the Allesandra's (which is not problematic in anyway or uncommon) or Primroses, we are talking about the Jazzlynn's, Naveah's, Tequijamins and all the other made up or "down-market" names and let's be honest that is a class thing, not just a name thing.

Is this fair? No, not really but I think a majority of us look at names like the one's I sited and I am NOT saying nameberries discriminate but we probably think to ourselves thats quite a name to have to deal with in life because honestly who wants to be known for a ridiculous name? You will be judged by it and possibly treated unfairly because of it. All of the names you listed are fine and could be CEO material but I dont think very many people think a child named "Diamondz Izibelle" or "Kaycen Mekenzie" is going to be running a fortune 500.

So I disagree, whether we like it or not names matter and there is statistical proof that they do. Hope that I havent offended anyone.

[sillysheila]

I have to disagree. Names do matter.
They're the first impression on a resume.
When an HR is given 200 resumes to go through, and has to get them down to 6, after the first several dozen; when everyone left is just as qualified, they start picking at the smallest tiniest flaw in order to get it down to 6.
And names are most definitely a part of it. I've read this, and been told this by employers who've done it themselves.

Names definitely do matter.
The book Freakonomics has a chapter on it.

Did you read my whole post? Because I go on to say that people do stereotype people based on their names. What I am saying is that the name itself isn't the problem, it's the preconceived notions that people get when they hear or see the name. If my Grace were named Britney or Shaniqua, she would still be the same person. Her name wouldn't change who she is. In that sense, her name wouldn't matter. But, they do matter to the people who view her based on her name (like a university admission board or HR). That's my point.

[thetxbelle]

Did you read my whole post? Because I go on to say that people do stereotype people based on their names. What I am saying is that the name itself isn't the problem, it's the preconceived notions that people get when they hear or see the name. If my Grace were named Britney or Shaniqua, she would still be the same person. Her name wouldn't change who she is. In that sense, her name wouldn't matter. But, they do matter to the people who view her based on her name (like a university admission board or HR). That's my point.

Unfortunately I think you can chalk this up to life not being fair.

[sillysheila]

Unfortunately I think you can chalk this up to life not being fair.

Precisely.

[east93]

Did you read my whole post? Because I go on to say that people do stereotype people based on their names. What I am saying is that the name itself isn't the problem, it's the preconceived notions that people get when they hear or see the name. If my Grace were named Britney or Shaniqua, she would still be the same person. Her name wouldn't change who she is. In that sense, her name wouldn't matter. But, they do matter to the people who view her based on her name (like a university admission board or HR). That's my point.

Oh no, I did and I agree with that. Which is why I only quoted the beginning part of it.
I only wanted to address that part since I agree with everything else you said.

[caroline147]

Interesting thread! Whilst I completely agree that it is ridiculous to think that unless girls have masculine names they cannot be successful professionally, I disagree with some of your other points.
For me, naming a child is not about challenging the patriarchal paradigm or any other societal norms I disagree with, it's about which names will make my child's life the easiest. I see naming as the first step in responsible parenting; so, as pretty as Primrose is, I would never use it in the first name spot simply because I think it would make my child's life more difficult to be named Primrose instead of many other options. If I say that I can't imagine someone with a certain name being a certain thing, I feel like it is based on these social norms and it is reasonable to infer from that that other people will make the same assumptions as me or others who I ask. People do stereotype based on names, so I would like to protect my children from that and, most importantly, give them as many options as possible (though obviously no one will be able to achieve these goals completely!). I feel like overly feminine/frilly names would be hard for a tomboy, for instance. I have issues with overly masculine, trendy, kreatif, popular, unusual, difficult to pronounce/spell etc names for similar reasons.

[woodensandals]

Political naming -

I'm willing to bet that if primrose were embarking on a political career she would shorten her name to Rose.
Just ask Willard Romney or Newton Gingrinch.

[caoimhe]

Recently read an interesting study that found that people with names that are hard to pronounce are more frequently overlooked for promotions etc. That seemed to go for surnames and given names. It wasn't related to foreign names or length/complexity of name but down to how easy they were to actually say. So, Jasmine would get a job over Jasminine and Alexandria over Alessandria etc. It seemed to be down to what rolls of the tongue easily in a particular accent. I think it does bring up an issue with all the creative/invented names out there... You can proclaim it "wrong" and "unfair" as much as you like but it doesn't change the fact that every one is human and will choose with a bias based on the tiniest thing.