Karen Rants: What’s in a name?
Every morning I start my day on my laptop, in front of my TV, watching one of the GMA/Today/Early Morning shows, kinda droning in and out, whilst I click away at the keyboard.
I perked up though when they announced that Tyra Banks was doing a piece on names – the stereotypes and judgments that people make with certain names - yep, it seemed interesting enough to watch. Since I am not an avid watcher of the Tyra Banks show, it took me a while to find the channel to program my TV so that I could watch, and I am glad I did.
Brief rundown of the show – Tyra groups the audience by race. She then has a panel of about 10 people sit in a back room where they are given several names over the period of the show, and they are to describe their impressions of the names. What was really interesting was what the Real person with the name looked like, in relation to the description.
Some of the names were Deedrica, Ashleigh, Jose, Sajida, Tuyet-Nhi. The common perception of the name Deedrica was African American, working at the DMV, with braids, and extensions, and a couple of “baby’s daddys”; The word Ghetto had sadly even been used.
Jose was considered to be in the Kitchen; Sajida a terrorist, Tuyet was in math, science, or driving taxis.
Deedrica, by the way was a Caucasian young lady, Ashleigh was Black, – Sajida was at least Second Generation American, very young girl. Many in the audience were upset at the panel for their stereotyping of these individuals, one actually stated that a member of the panel should step down, even though the show was based upon stereotyping. Strange huh? Or is it? Was it that it struck to close to home? I mean, the panel was just saying out loud what people actually think, are they not?
As one of the panel members said - American’s tend to pull away from what is not comfortable to them, to what they are not accustomed. Foreign names, well that really is strange is it not? What about made up names? Hey, one sister thinks that her sister Sold out because she named her black child Ashleigh instead of using an Afro name. Her sister, well she recognized that peoples will make judgments based upon names and she wanted Ashleigh to have a chance in life. She like many others believe that a name can be a disadvantage in society
I tend to agree with her, and much of the panel did as well, especially when posed with the question, who do you think would get the interview first, Deedrica, or Ashleigh? If you guessed that the panel said Ashleigh, then you were right.
BUT………. Today, I wonder, are we really changing. You see, today I am Finally getting a Sense of Pride for my Adopted country. Why, well two words Barack Obama.
When I first heard his name I, Yes I too made a judgment, my biggest thought, there was no Way that America would be ready for an individual whose name sounded so similar to Osama, and to top that off, is a Black man as well. Yes, I knew that Barack Obama had one of the most outstanding records to date, is highly intelligent, and someone with whom I would cut off my arm to have the opportunity to interview and discuss the fate of our economy and the plight of the middle class with. Yet, dear reader, I am embarrassed to admit, I did indeed make a judgment on a Name, and our Fine Citizens
Michelle Obama said it well “For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country. Not just because Barack is doing well, but I think people are hungry for change.” – Yes, indeed, I am too very proud of my country, because we are finally seeing beyond the color of a man’s skin, and the stereotype of a name.
There are some names that seem to do well even if they are different, Tyra, Oprah, Barrack to name a few.. So I wonder, why do some, and why not others? Ah, that is another article in itself..
So, is it really in a name? or is it really true? Are the Times a Changing?
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ABOUT KAREN MATTONEN, CAC, CSP
Karen is an experienced, successful recruiter who operates her own business and is actively involved in many industry organizations and activities. Her recruiting career began with Snelling Corporation. In 1998, after a successful tenure as a recruiter with Snelling, Karen struck out on her own, founding Advanced Career Solutions (ACS). ACS focuses on recruiting for the HVAC Industry. Karen has achieved accreditation as a California Accredited Consultant (CAC) through California Staffing Professionals. She has also gained her Certified Staffing Professional Certificate (CSP) through American Staffing Professionals. (www.americanstaffing.net)
Karen has a new and future-oriented vision of what recruiting can and should become: a profession we can be proud of for its ethical standing, professional conduct and ability to build great organizations. Her doing-well-by-doing-right philosophy is shaking up the status quo in an industry that needs to be shaken. She does this with conviction, leadership, and a distinctive voice that cries out for change.
Karen was a co-creator of the landmark webinar event – “EEOC Discrimination Debate.” This event featured senior members of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and staffing industry experts discussing and debating difficult issues about discrimination in today’s workplace environment. Company executives, hiring managers, recruiters, and human resource professionals from across the United States were invited to participate in the free Webinar and live panel discussion. Karen also served as one of the panelists on the discussion team in the March, 2006 event.
As co-host of the popular podcast “The Recruiters Lounge,”Karen discusses her frank opinions on the recruitment industry with her co-host, Jim Stroud
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Nothing says "Thanks for posting this Jim!" like Starbucks Coffee. Click here to buy me a cup (or two).
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Comments
Rithesh
Thanks for the response, appreciate it but I don’t understand how it fits in with what I wrote.
I was discussing how we can all have personal judgements w/o even realizing we are doing it, even with something as simple as a name.
Also, I was emphasizing that maybe change is occuring that people are growing here in America beyond judgement with something as simple as a name..
Again, thanks for posting, maybe I should have clarified better.
Karen
[...] Rants: What’s in a name? February 22nd, 2008 Sylvia Welsh wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI perked up though when they [...]
Karen:
I guess I’m confused. I didn’t see the show, but I would guess Deedrica was a caucasian female, probably from the South. Ashleigh could be anybody, even a guy. . .I happen to know an Ashleigh, with the same spelling, who is male, so I wouldn’t make that assumption. Jose, sorry, gotta go with Hispanic with that name, and probably male, but I would never guess he’s a kitchen worker. The Jose I know is a physician. Sajida sounds like a person I know from India who, last I heard, had Ph.D. in International Affairs. And I would guess that Tuyet-Nhi is probably Thai. I wouldn’t hazard a guess as to male or female, but, based on the Thais I know, I’d suspect well-educated, very well-cultured, and probably well-employed.
Possibly the problem is with the audience. Maybe if you have enough time on your hands to hang out with Tyra Banks in the middle of the day, you’re not all that employable yourself, or maybe the kind of people that want to bask in the supernal glow of Tyra Banks’ aura are also the kind of people who automatically make the assumption that somebody named Jose is relegated to a life spent in the kitchen of a restaurant, instead of being the kind of person more well-suited to serving humanity from the business-end of a scalpel, or a stethoscope.
On the other hand, I’m also acquainted with a “Bubba” who, among his other many accomplishments, managed to obtain a number of fancy advanced degrees before distinguishing himself at the top of his law school class, so what the heck do I know.
Maybe the secret is to NOT make the assumption that the secret of life is to be found at the Tyra Banks show. Of course, I could be wrong.
Warm Regards,
James E. Mason
James,
I loved your post - it really did an excellent job in demonstrating my point exactly.
It is so easy to make assumptions, or even jump to conclusions, isn’t it?
Whether it be the fact that someone watched a particular TV Show, (which was actually very insightful which is why I assume Good Morning America had recommended it); What a person reads; their political views; What a person drives; Where they live;
Even what they wear - an interesting out the box example - 2 guys walking or riding a bike, wearing a white button down shirt, red tie, black pants - what is the first General thought?
Yes, of course, even in a name, whether it be foreign or a “bubba” for example — thanks for that one, it really did “strike home” didn’t it?
James, what I also appreciated and would like to bestow my gratitude was how eloquently you demonstrated for me, that, for every finger we point at someone, there are generally three pointing right back to ourselves.. Thank You! I tried, but I don’t think I did nearly as good a job as you did.
I appreciated your candid response, I hope you also will appreciate mine. 
Karen:
I appreciate everything you write. That’s why I read what you have to say. . .I’m hoping that someday, possibly through some form of “electronic osmosis (if there is such a thing?), I’ll be a better recruiter.
Stranger things have happened. Okay, they probably haven’t, but a guy’s gotta dream, right?
Warm Regards,
James E. Mason
Change for what?
“An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching”
Mahatma Gandhi
I really hope his cabinet won’t be filled with the superdelegates who promised him the vote..or there’s NO Change.
Minorities don’t understand that
“They cannot take away our self-respect if we do not give it to them.” Mahatma Gandhi
Not White but a Proud American since landing in this country….)
From
Your phone still getting tapped at 11am?…:)