Discrimination Against Ethnic/Minority Names

Novo · Sep 7, 2012

I think you're reading into it too much. I don't think managers care what your name is after they see your qualifications on your resume. I don't think managers say "Hey! Chang sounds like a Chinese name I'm going to throw this resume out!". Unless of course they're racists but those people are in the minority these days.

biomimetical · Sep 7, 2012

I think you're reading into it too much. I don't think managers care what your name is after they see your qualifications on your resume. I don't think managers say "Hey! Chang sounds like a Chinese name I'm going to throw this resume out!". Unless of course they're racists but those people are in the minority these days.

I don't believe anyone would deliberately or blatantly discriminate that way (by tossing a resume strictly based on the name). But in the face of many, many applicants per job, they might narrow the list down per requirements to a smaller pool of candidates. Then they might "go with their gut" and offer interviews first to the people who "feel right" without consciously knowing why they feel like better applicants.

Very few people consciously discriminate, especially in the HR department. But when the data is added up, it shows discrimination. So even if no one is doing it deliberately, it's still happening.

http://news.efinancialcareers.com/69374/canadians-with-ethnic-names-less-likely-to-get-resume-callbacks-study-finds/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/oct/18/racism-discrimination-employment-undercover

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/how-an-ethnic-sounding-name-may-affect-the-job-hunt/article555082/

Crux1024 · Sep 7, 2012

Thats an interesting point you bring up, one ive never thought of before. Theres more to be found under " [ethnic] name discrimination" if anyone is interested in googling for more ( I did. ). Im taking a Healthcare Diversity class for my BSN and this seems like a good subject to bring up to see others opinions.

Thanks for the info.

*Also, my advice is to yes, to keep applying. I have an ethnic name, but in a job market where 90% of RNs are caucasian (this number may have fluctuated a bit, as it was written 4 years ago) Citation: Maier-Lorentz, M. M. (2008). Transcultural Nursing: Its importance in nursing practice. Journal of Cultural Diversity. (15)1, 37-43

I personally, find myself to be more noticable than not. Good luck to you.

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Sep 7, 2012

The racists are in the minority these days!!! Love the pun, intended or not.I have worked in many places where the WHITE person was in the minority.I do most of the hiring at my facility. The first thing I look at is years of experience in long term care. Then I check out how many places the person worked. Honestly, I don't even glance at the name until I decide to call them in foran interview.

ablpn · Sep 7, 2012

Unfortunately this is very true! If you are not a minority, you may not understand. I am from the south and have witnessed applications being thrown in the trash can of people with ethnic names specifically African American names. They may not throw out one that says "Chang" but they will certainly throw out a "LaQuisha" or "Martavion". Lets face it folks, predjudice and racism still exist and in some places its on the rise. It is sad but its true. I have found that in my area, I have to really be on top of my game and work extra hard because of my race in order to get positions that my white counterparts are applying for.

eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN · Sep 7, 2012

I feel this probably exists and it's terrible. Unfortunately it probably works both ways though. I remember when I graduated high school and was searching for scholarships, most of the ones I found required the recipient be a certain race, and it was never white.

Racism sucks.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Sep 7, 2012

My ethnicity is WASP - but I agree with the OP. In fact, it is such an "open secret" that I know of three people in my grad school classes who anglicized their first names for professional reasons. One of my current colleagues (African American) legally changed her first name when she was pursuing her doctorate in public health after being advised to do so by an influential professor.

I do know that having an unusual or weird first name is a real disadvantage in some professions because it detracts from the gravitas that they need to project. Can you imagine a Supreme Court Justice named Moonbeam or Apple?

I have no solution - wish I did.

uRNmyway, ASN, RN · Sep 7, 2012

I feel this probably exists and it's terrible. Unfortunately it probably works both ways though. I remember when I graduated high school and was searching for scholarships, most of the ones I found required the recipient be a certain race, and it was never white.
Racism sucks.

I completely agree. When I was in nursing school, the only scholarships being offered were specifically for African American females.

And I don't think the discrimination against minorities occurs as much as people imply. Just because there are more non-minority health care workers, it does not mean that minority applications are being thrown out. Could it be that possibly out of the applicants, the non-minorities really WERE the more qualified ones?

And what about the quotas for employers and schools to accept and hire minorities? They actually get fined it they don't meet them. I'm sorry, but I feel your race/name have ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with your qualifications, or eligibility for extra aid or funds. If you are poor, you are poor. If you are smart and qualified, then you deserve positions that less qualified/smart people shouldn't get. As simple as that. I think that, like a previous poster has mentioned, name should only be looked at when it comes to background checks and the like. One of my biggest pet peeves when I fill out a work application is being asked what my "race" is.

mazy · Sep 7, 2012

As much as I hate to admit that this is true in 2012, I agree with the OP. I am curious about using a different name to apply for a job though. Whenever I've applied, I have to give my license info and that comes under your real name. How do you get around that?

ablpn · Sep 7, 2012

Again, people who are NOT African American can not speak on it. They are not black and have not had our experiences with trying to prove that we are equal and just as good a nurse as our white counterparts. I know of DONs who have been fired from their positions after making racist comments to African AAmerican nurses. When I was in LPN school I went to a branch of a community college here in Mississippi. In order to go to RN school, I would have had to go to another town to the main branch. The head administrator at the brach I was attending (An older white gentleman who everybody loved) advised me not to apply for RN school at this college because the Nursing insrtuctors were racist and harder on the black students. He advised me to go to en entirely different college.And the sad thing about it is that here in the south, they all profess to be Christians. You can't beat them going to church on Sunday, but of course that is the most segregated place in the world is church.(At my place of worship all races are worshiping together, but of course that is a another subject). Thats what is so sad about it. A lot of people refuse to accept the fact that there is racism even in our line of work. Of course they don't see it because its shameful to them. Excuses, excuses, excuses.

mudd68 · Sep 7, 2012

This happens outside of Nursing as well. My friend's madien name was Sanchez. She got married. When she had children she was applying for food assistence and the case worker asked about her "papers/greencard". Ummmm, she was born here! It's happening.