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I had a job interview and the first thing I was asked is "how do I pronounce your name properly?"
A thread on why this is awesome and sets the tone for a great interaction (and especially why you should do this if you care about #EDI) 1/
@AcademicChatter #chemtwitter
A thread on why this is awesome and sets the tone for a great interaction (and especially why you should do this if you care about #EDI) 1/
@AcademicChatter #chemtwitter
As someone with a non-eurocentric name, this shows you acknowledge you haven't come across my name before, and also that you *care* enough to pronounce it properly.
This eliminates the awkward dance of "no sorry, you're saying it wrong" - especially in an interview! 2/
This eliminates the awkward dance of "no sorry, you're saying it wrong" - especially in an interview! 2/
Most ppl know me as "Nim", which is a cute nickname (that I like), but is also a defence mechanism against ppl mispronouncing my name & not caring when I correct them.
It's exhausting and devaluing, and often BIPOC consistently have to do this - to the pt where we give up! 3/
It's exhausting and devaluing, and often BIPOC consistently have to do this - to the pt where we give up! 3/
It took me a long time to internalize that the easy fix is just if ppl ask first how to pronounce "Nimrat" instead of attempting.
Yes, I know my name is not "common" (in Canada at least), but it's a strong & meaningful connection to my personal identity as a Punjabi/Sikh, 4/
Yes, I know my name is not "common" (in Canada at least), but it's a strong & meaningful connection to my personal identity as a Punjabi/Sikh, 4/
and that makes it just as important as yours. I & others shouldn't have to erase ourselves to make things "easier" for you.
Asking us if we have "an English name" or "a better name" (actual questions, ugh) is ignorant & lazy, and contributes to this erasure and devaluation. 5/
Asking us if we have "an English name" or "a better name" (actual questions, ugh) is ignorant & lazy, and contributes to this erasure and devaluation. 5/
So, to conclude, a huge part of #EDI is valuing other ppl's diverse identities - especially when different from *your* worldview.
Asking how to pronounce a name properly is a small, easy habit to adopt that will help you get there.
(And we appreciate it, a lot.)
6/6
Asking how to pronounce a name properly is a small, easy habit to adopt that will help you get there.
(And we appreciate it, a lot.)
6/6
