Renaming Me: Assessing the Influence of Gender Identity on Name Selection

Our identity is our name connected with a specific face and body. Yet, our name, a critical aspect of the “names-body-identity” nexus is rarely self-selected. The naming of a newborn is often the purview of family and the name selected is often linked to the sex assigned to the child. Assigned sex,...

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Main Authors: Sharon N. Obasi, Richard Mocarski, Natalie Holt, Debra A. Hope, Nathan Woodruff
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University Library System, University of Pittsburgh 2019-10-01
Series:Names
Subjects:
Online Access:http://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/2199
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author Sharon N. Obasi
Richard Mocarski
Natalie Holt
Debra A. Hope
Nathan Woodruff
author_facet Sharon N. Obasi
Richard Mocarski
Natalie Holt
Debra A. Hope
Nathan Woodruff
author_sort Sharon N. Obasi
collection DOAJ
description Our identity is our name connected with a specific face and body. Yet, our name, a critical aspect of the “names-body-identity” nexus is rarely self-selected. The naming of a newborn is often the purview of family and the name selected is often linked to the sex assigned to the child. Assigned sex, however, may differ from gender identity. Renaming, the process of selecting and using a new name, can be instrumental in expressing an authentic gender identity. Thus, gender identity and renaming were examined among transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) adults using an online survey. Participants indicated that the recognition of their gender identity often involved the renaming of self or the use of a new name reflective of that gender identity. Several factors influenced name selection including input from familial sources. This exploratory study offers insight into the connection between gender and naming strategies in an adult TGNC population.
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spelling doaj.art-2f7ce6222c50466eab484f09809c2dca2022-12-22T01:31:02ZengUniversity Library System, University of PittsburghNames0027-77381756-22792019-10-0167410.1080/00277738.2018.1536188Renaming Me: Assessing the Influence of Gender Identity on Name SelectionSharon N. ObasiRichard MocarskiNatalie HoltDebra A. HopeNathan Woodruff Our identity is our name connected with a specific face and body. Yet, our name, a critical aspect of the “names-body-identity” nexus is rarely self-selected. The naming of a newborn is often the purview of family and the name selected is often linked to the sex assigned to the child. Assigned sex, however, may differ from gender identity. Renaming, the process of selecting and using a new name, can be instrumental in expressing an authentic gender identity. Thus, gender identity and renaming were examined among transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) adults using an online survey. Participants indicated that the recognition of their gender identity often involved the renaming of self or the use of a new name reflective of that gender identity. Several factors influenced name selection including input from familial sources. This exploratory study offers insight into the connection between gender and naming strategies in an adult TGNC population. http://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/2199courtroomidentitylegalnarrativesnameopening address
spellingShingle Sharon N. Obasi
Richard Mocarski
Natalie Holt
Debra A. Hope
Nathan Woodruff
Renaming Me: Assessing the Influence of Gender Identity on Name Selection
Names
courtroom
identity
legal
narratives
name
opening address
title Renaming Me: Assessing the Influence of Gender Identity on Name Selection
title_full Renaming Me: Assessing the Influence of Gender Identity on Name Selection
title_fullStr Renaming Me: Assessing the Influence of Gender Identity on Name Selection
title_full_unstemmed Renaming Me: Assessing the Influence of Gender Identity on Name Selection
title_short Renaming Me: Assessing the Influence of Gender Identity on Name Selection
title_sort renaming me assessing the influence of gender identity on name selection
topic courtroom
identity
legal
narratives
name
opening address
url http://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/2199
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AT natalieholt renamingmeassessingtheinfluenceofgenderidentityonnameselection
AT debraahope renamingmeassessingtheinfluenceofgenderidentityonnameselection
AT nathanwoodruff renamingmeassessingtheinfluenceofgenderidentityonnameselection