Yike Gao L&S Social Sciences
Comparative Study of Naming Choices of Chinese and Indian Americans
My research seeks to answer why different ethnic groups of Asian Americans adopt American first names at distinct rates; to what extent first names affect one’s identification with one’s ethnic origin; and how gender moderates the naming process. The project was motivated by personal observations: I found that my East Asian peers all have Americanized first names, while most of my South Asian peers have first names that signal their ethnic origin – a pattern I subsequently confirmed using the California Birth Index. The quantitative discovery intrigued me enough to engage in further qualitative research. Through in-depth interviews with first- and second-generation Asian Americans of Chinese or Indian descent, I seek to uncover the motivations and consequences behind different naming practices. Given previous literature’s findings on the adverse effects of racially identifiable names and name-changing as an assimilation strategy, it is particularly interesting how two groups of immigrants display distinct naming patterns. .
Message To Sponsor
Thank you so much for your generous support for undergraduate research! It is because of your financial support that so many undergraduates like myself are able to carry out a project of our interests and passion. I am immensely grateful for this opportunity!