Racist names

Some time ago you might have known me by a different name, Leanne Waddell. This wasn’t my birth name. I was married and took on my husband’s family name.

I wonder if I imagined it or not… but at that time, people responded to me differently when I had donned that last name. Emails sent to people who never met me, were taken more seriously (read and responded to). I had people saying my last name more or my full name more often.

My last name had vowels — something I never had before! It was fairly easy for English speakers to say it. It had a nice ring to it. It felt like I was finally playing for the cool team. Well, it felt like I was finally on the team (whatever team that was). Like one of those players with their last name on their jersey, I was on that team that called each other by last name. It was a kind of belonging and power I hadn’t experienced before.

I didn’t realise that was a form of internalised racism. I believed myself to be superior somehow now that I was equipped with a Westerner’s last name.

When I left my husband and returned to my original two-letter-no-vowel Chinese family name, I returned to having my name mispronounced and emails ignored. 

I learned that this is nothing compared to my other coloured sisters and brothers who had names people would describe as “ethnic”. I came across many stories of people opting to change their names on their resumes and LinkedIn profiles to names that are more easily pronounced, typically “white” names. Of course, there are many reasons why someone might want to simplify or change their name.

Enraged by this injustice and having realised I have been on the other side of this racism before, I decided to use my full name professionally. Leanne Wei Yi Ng.

My Chinese name “Wei Yi” is on my birth certificate and other identification. Why should it not also be used in a professional setting? Well, the old me was embarrassed by this name and out of convenience for myself and others, would often omit it.

Now, I no longer want to hide this. I am of Chinese descent and I have a Chinese name! So I went from Leanne and my two-letter-no-vowel Chinese family name, to “wait, is your first name Leanne and then the second or middle name Wei? Or is your last name Weiying?” Honestly, that confusion is a small price to pay and it is worth it.

So, if you’re like me and you have a non-white name, do not be ashamed. Do not be afraid to use it. Do not conform. Let us all raise each other up in solidarity. If you don’t have a name like mine, seek to understand and make an effort to get our names right. If you don’t know, find out! If you’ve experienced something like this, I would love to hear about your story.

And if you’re looking to support women of colour who often struggle with similar challenges like the ones I mentioned above, please consider following and supporting the work of Women of Colour Australia.