Defense Date
12-16-2019
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
Master of Arts
Degree Name
Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media
First Advisor
Star Vanguri
Second Advisor
Kelly Concannon Mannise
Keywords
Name identity, unusual names, names in the workplace, name selection, name stereotyping, anthroponyms, name discrimination, unique names, name selection
Abstract
This thesis is devoted to personal names and depicts how names both establish and destabilize identity. The collection of research gathered in this thesis demonstrates that names play an intriguing role in the construction of our lives, selves, and placement in society. It also considers names in childhood, and how names are one of the earliest signifiers of self-recognition and gender identification. Further, this thesis shows the impact social constructs have on names and the power of names to persuade people into making certain choices. This thesis concludes by demonstrating how unusual names can exclude, stereotype, or disadvantage people.
NSUWorks Citation
Taisha A. DeAza. 2019. The Impact of an Unusual Name on Individual and Cultural Identity. Master's thesis. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, . (36)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hcas_etd_all/36.