Black student - 7 yrs Assault/ White student - probation arson, Paris TX

[shinerbock]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Oh so like "Moon Unit and Dwezil Zappa" don't have any favors? Or Angelina Jolie?

Once again, you're referencing abnormal circumstances.

If a person of normal means did that then no, thats not doing them any favors. What is interesting or appealing in the entertainment or sports world very likely might not work in most other contexts. Take away the celebrity status and you've just got a weird name.

On a side note, I think its stupid even for Hollywood kids to be named weird things. Its setting them even more apart from the general public. Hollywood is messed up and stupid enough as it is, I wouldn't want my kid to have a dumb name to boot. It seems like parents are sometimes setting their kids up to follow in their celebrity footsteps, which is the complete opposite of what I'd want. I'd want my kid as far away from that scene is possible, hoping that maybe they could grow up to be a respectable and minimally scarred individual who may make it through life without 3 divorces, a drug problem and criminal convictions.

[UGAalum94]

I think the bias against unusual names isn't an area in which people recognize their own prejudice, so there's no way they are knowingly "basking in their bigotry." (although that's a cool turn of phrase)

My point, and I only kind of have one, is that this if I were going to knowingly choose to do something that would run the risk of stereotyping my hypothetical kid, I wouldn't want the stereotype to run to "ghetto" or redneck, so I guess Brandie Sue* and Traquanda* are both out, not that there's anything wrong with those names in the abstract.

I also intend to avoid trendy traditional names if I can because I'm sure people never anticipated the day when five girls in class are named Katie or boys are named Corey, not that there's anything wrong with those names, either.

One other drawback as I see it is that when there's not a strong relationship between the pronunciation and the spelling, the first day of school is bad for everyone.

* If you are named either Brandy Sue or Traquanda, I apologize.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

I think the bias against unusual names isn't an area in which people recognize their own prejudice, so there's no way they are knowingly "basking in their bigotry." (although that's a cool turn of phrase)

Uh wow - you even quoted the study . . . I mean, Occam's Razor here, killer. Black-sounding names get fewer callbacks - but you're convinced and sure there's no "basking"? I don't get it.

[1908Revelations]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Uh wow - you even quoted the study . . . I mean, Occam's Razor here, killer. Black-sounding names get fewer callbacks - but you're convinced and sure there's no "basking"? I don't get it.

That is so true....unfortunate but true.

I guess Condoleezza Rice better be happy she made it, because I'm sure her app would have gotton looked over if she were not in the position she is in today.

Eventhough I do have to freedom to name my children (whenever I choose to have them) whatever I want; knowing that applicants get passed over because of how their name sounds I would not put them at a disadvantage.

[AKA_Monet]

How hilarious is this...

Oh well...

[UGAalum94]

Sorry, you all, I was trying to emphasize the "knowingly" part.

I think the study revealed a bias that the screeners likely weren't even aware of. I don't think the screeners had the intent to remove everyone of color, if for no other reason than it would clearly be illegal.

I didn't mean they weren't biased; of course they were. But if you don't even know you are doing it, it will be even harder to correct, but of course, no less real in terms of harm.