The Bureaucracy of Belonging: Why Names Become Barriers for non western women

Many of us navigate the professional world on LinkedIn, a platform built on establishing our identities. Yet, for many women, particularly those with non-English names or who have changed their names upon marriage, this identity can be challenged by the very systems meant to recognize it.

My own experience exemplifies this frustration. My name, seemingly innocuous to most, constantly faces scrutiny from official institutions. "There must be a typo," I'm often told, while my husband's readily English name sails through with no issues. This constant questioning feels like an accusation, as if my non-Western name somehow makes me less legitimate.

This isn't just about personal inconvenience. It's about a system that reinforces a narrow definition of belonging. Women,especially those from diverse backgrounds, often face the additional hurdle of navigating name changes after marriage.These bureaucratic roadblocks create unnecessary delays and cast doubt on our rightful place within these systems.

A Double Bind: Tradition and Progress

While the tradition of women changing their last name upon marriage has been around for centuries, the past 30 years have seen a shift in this practice, making the system even more complicated. Historically, women were expected to take their husband's last name, a custom often mandated by law. The rise of the feminist movement challenged this tradition, with women advocating for the right to retain their birth names or hyphenate them.

This shift, however, has been gradual. Social norms and legal hurdles meant many women still adopted their husband's names. Today, the problem lies in the discrepancy between this evolving social landscape and outdated systems. Designed for a time when most women changed their names, these systems struggle with non-English names or those that differ from birth names due to marriage. Your husband's English name fits neatly, while yours becomes an anomaly, leading to delays and unnecessary scrutiny.

The Cost of Exclusion

The consequences of this bureaucratic bias are far-reaching:

• Inclusion: When official institutions prioritize familiar names over others, they create a culture of exclusion. This discourages participation and undermines the very diversity that strengthens our communities.
• Efficiency: Time wasted correcting errors or justifying our names detracts from our ability to contribute.Streamlining processes for non-English names would benefit everyone.
• Respect: Our names are a core part of our identity. When a system repeatedly questions them, it sends a message of disrespect and undermines our sense of belonging.

Moving Forward: Towards a More Inclusive System

It's time for a change. We need official institutions to embrace the richness of our globalized world. Here's what we can do:

• Advocate for change: Speak up about your experiences and encourage others to do the same. Share your stories on platforms like LinkedIn to raise awareness.
• Push for inclusive forms: Encourage institutions to adopt name fields that accommodate accents, diacritics, and characters beyond the standard English alphabet.
• Hold institutions accountable: If you face repeated issues, file complaints and document your experiences.

Let's work towards a system that recognizes and respects the beautiful diversity of names, just as it should the beautiful diversity of the people who carry them.

Harder work on a daily basis than writing this blog. I am getting used to be questioned, judged as it takes so long to understand my first name, my middle name, my name at birth, my married name... Wonder why we have so many Annie, or Monique or Jimmy? Any comments from anyone?

#diversityandinclusion #belonging #womeninworkforce #vietnamesewomen #ethnicbelonging #

Chi My

www.equestasia.com.au

TedX speaker on Feminine Intelligence the new EQ and Cultural identity and Social Media: Unplug and find your real Pho Self

Thought leader, femininist, author.