• Unknown label,

Monica Biernat (U. Kansas). Names matter: Implications of name “whitening” for discrimination and well-being

Published on June 17, 2026 – Updated on June 17, 2026

Names are important aspects of identity, but because of their links to culture and ethnicity, names may also trigger discriminatory responses in some contexts. In the U.S., one response is for international visitors and members of ethnic minority groups to adopt an Anglicized or "whitened" first names. This talk will describe research exploring this acculturation practice by asking 1) whether name Anglicization reduces discriminatory responses, 2) how name Anglicization is related to wellbeing, and 3) whether a "name learning" intervention may improve interethnic interactions and remove the need for (and onus on) ethnic minority and international visitors to alter their names. The research focuses on name Anglicization among Chinese students and scholars in the U.S. and Canada, but broader implications will be discussed.

Dates

on the June 25, 2026

17H
Location
UNIVERSITE PARIS 8
SAINT DENIS
Salle A229 (Bâtiment A)
SEMINAIRE EQUIPE LAPPS-ENOSIS



Afin d’organiser au mieux le séminaire et le moment convivial qui suivra, pourriez-vous compléter ce questionnaire si vous souhaitez venir ? https://forms.gle/9r9T73D8iYpLzM438


Résumé.
Names are important aspects of identity, but because of their links to
culture and ethnicity, names may also trigger discriminatory responses
in some contexts. In the U.S., one response is for international visitors
and members of ethnic minority groups to adopt an Anglicized or
"whitened" first names. This talk will describe research exploring this
acculturation practice by asking 1) whether name Anglicization reduces
discriminatory responses, 2) how name Anglicization is related to wellbeing,
and 3) whether a "name learning" intervention may improve interethnic
interactions and remove the need for (and onus on) ethnic
minority and international visitors to alter their names. The research
focuses on name Anglicization among Chinese students and scholars in
the U.S. and Canada, but broader implications will be discussed.


 

Updated on 17 juin 2026