| ID | 152445 |
| Title Proper | What would it be reasonable for the kid to be called?’ – negotiating the racialised essentialism of names |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Wykes, Emily Jay |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | In this article I assert that the importance of names within the process of racialisation has been under-explored in the UK context. I consider data from seven qualitative interviews, which suggest that names are racialised in the UK and that this racialisation can affect the naming choices of multiracial/ethnic parents. My participants indicated that, when choosing children’s forenames and surnames, there are juxtaposing concerns: a fear of potential discrimination faced by children on the basis of them bearing a ‘foreign’ name, and a desire to reflect the children’s multiracial and/or ethnic heritage. I describe and discuss two consequential strategies that my participants suggested: to give the child a white British name in an attempt to help them pass as white British, or to oppose the fears of racism/discrimination and give them a name that displays their Otherness. I discuss these ideas in relation to racial passing and whiteness literature. |
| `In' analytical Note | Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power Vol. 24, No.2; Apr 2017: p.198-215 |
| Journal Source | Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power 2017-04 24, 2 |
| Key Words | Racism ; Racialisation ; Whiteness ; Names ; Racial Passing ; Social-Class |