Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: In her social and political commentary, Emma Goldman’s pattern of name usage reveals the social significance that she places on the symbolism of names. A name can represent a personal or a social identity, signify a familial or a social relationship and confer social and professional status. Names and their usage reflect societal norms and institutions. Goldman’s pattern of usage of names is another tool of her critique. In her feminist utopia, Herland, Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses the act of naming as a social instrument to signify both social identity and community (given-name), individuality (descriptive-name) and progressivism (unique compound-names). In their use of names and naming, Goldman and Gilman critique patriarchy, the nuclear family and the nature of identity as they seek to create a more humane and just society for all.

Publication Type: GIFTS
Abstract: This G.I.F.T. uses Johnny Cash’s song entitled “A Boy Named Sue” to illustrate denotation and connotation. After discussing the difference between the two concepts, the class shares connotations for common names, such as implied gender and their impression of an individual carrying a particular name. The instructor compares name definitions with their connotations, ending with the name Sue. The song is played, and the class discusses the change in connotation for the name “Sue” as the song progresses.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: In this paper, I use feminist theories of when a choice is voluntary to address the issue of names and naming. In particular, I examine how feminist theory illuminates the importance of community in the decisions of women.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: When the Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts fought for control of the domain name, what was her aim? Did she want to maximize her potential economic benefits from the Internet? Probably not, as she has not used the name since it was transferred to her. Or did she want to prevent others from using it on either an unjust enrichment or a privacy basis? Personal domain name disputes, particularly those in the <.com> space, implicate unique issues relating to the legal protection of an individual’s persona in cyberspace. Nevertheless, most of the legal rules developed for these disputes are based on trademark law. Although a number of individuals have been able to establish trademarks in their personal names and to successfully utilize these rules, there are significant limitations to this approach. These paper examines the current problems arising with the use of personal names in the domain space and suggests some directions for future legal and regulatory development.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Many surveys seeking to represent minority populations can spend quite a bit of time and funding to do so. Beginning in the Fall of 2000 and ending in the Summer of 2002, NORC conducted a health survey for the University of Rochester, which was funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). One objectives of the survey was to find and interview an over-representative sample of Hispanic and African-American children.

The sample universe was children who recently enrolled in New York State’s Child Health Plus Insurance Program (CHP). The sample file contained the child’s full name, address, telephone number, gender, DOB, and program enrollment date, but not race. Ultimately, NORC screened 5,054 children out of a located, eligible or unknown eligible sample of 5,968.

In an effort to boost the incidence of Hispanic children in the sample, the Principal Investigators of the study evaluated the surnames and increased the sampling rate for the records with a Hispanic surname.

If it were possible to predict the incidence rate of the African-American children based on name, the sampling and screening processes of the study could have been streamlined and economized.

This paper explores the results of the study’s success at predicting the incidence of Hispanic ethnicity through evaluation of surnames, and retrospectively, explores the possibility of using first name to predict the incidence of the African-American race.