#MyNameIs Campaign
Your name is more than just a name. It’s part of your heritage, identity and pride. But all over the world, names are mispronounced. And regardless of the reason, it’s hurtful to those affected. That is why Race Equality Matters is launching the #MyNameIs digital tool helping people share their real names by translating it to phonetics and a rally cry for organisations to standardise these phonetic spellings in email signatures and throughout their business. Share your name, share your story.
Discover and share your phonetic name at my-name-is.io
Why join the #MyNameIs Campaign?
In a recent poll 73% of respondents from more than 100 organisations said they had their names mispronounced. They told us it made them feel ‘not valued or important’, ‘disrespected’ and ‘that they didn’t belong’. 88% of respondents thought a phonetic name spelling campaign would help tackle race inequality. Hear our network discuss the importance of this campaign below:
THE SOLUTION
Race Equality Matters #MyNameIs, is a simple but highly impactful solution to ensure everyone pronounces people’s names correctly.
We have seen the positive impact on inclusivity with the addition of pronouns and we have an opportunity to build on this.
The Campaign calls to normalise phonetic spelling in your email signature, meetings, name badges and more. Discover your phonetic name with the Fuh-Net-Ic Tool and download the Guide for 7 tips for implementing this campaign in your organisation.
The Fuh-Net-Ic Filter
A tool that allows people to create a phonetic spelling of their name and share it on social media by downloading the image it creates. There’s also an option to upload a photo!
Simply go to the my-name-is.io website and type your phonetic name with the #MyNameIs hashtag. Once this is done, the image can be downloaded, shared on social media or dropped into email signatures, business cards or any other place where people will see your name. Don’t forget to share on social and tag Race Equality Matters!
Our Fuh-Net-tic Filter has recently undergone some changes. Due to some technicalities, the tool can no longer give you suggestions of what your phonetic spelling might be. But not to worry! There are plenty of resources to help you create your own and input into the tool.
Despite the change in functionality, 94% of people still believe in the #MyNameIs campaign and the Fuh-Net-Tic Filter. Our goal remains the same.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Be part of the movement to say people’s names correctly.
1. Download, use and share the free #MyNameIs guide.
2. Use the Fuh-Net-Ic Tool to discover the phonetic pronunciation of your name.
3. Create and share your name and image on social media tagging Race Equality Matters and using #MyNameIs.
4. Add this spelling to your email signature and other communication channels e.g. meetings, social media, name badges etc.
5. Download and display the social media icon.
6. Check you are saying other people’s names correctly.
7. Encourage colleagues, employees, and your networks to do the same.
8. Engage your organisation to implement #MyNameis.
Show your organisations commitment
We are calling for 1000 organisations to get involved #MyNameIs this Race Equality Week; 7-13 February 2022.
1. Download the free guide
2. Make your organisational pledge to implement #MyNameIs
3. Download the ‘Proud to be part of the change’ logo
4. Implement #MyNameIs in your organisation
5. Display the ‘Proud to be part of the change’ pledge logo on your organisation’s website, social media, and email signatures.
6. Encourage individuals and colleagues to download the social media icon
For further inspiration watch the Launch Event recording and hear from our network on why this campaign is so important.
The majority of us get people’s names wrong. Does it really matter?
In a poll we ran recently, out of 180 people, 73% of people have had their names mispronounced.
“The thing I’m most grateful for in our business right now is being in the company of others who truly see me. And to not be complicit in the objectification of black people as ‘others’, which is what happens when you’re the only one. That’s my name. It’s always been my name. I’m taking back what’s mine,” -Thandiwe Newton
COULD YOU PRONOUNCE THESE NAMES CORRECTLY?
Thandiwe Newton
Bijal Patel
Ama Afrifa-Tchie
Ngoc Nguyen
Sade
SIMPLE SOLUTION, BIG IMPACT
Getting someone’s name right makes them feel accepted, included and that they belong.
“A person’s name is the greatest connection to their own identity and individuality. Some might say it is the most important word in the world to that person… It is a sign of courtesy… When someone remembers our name after meeting us, we feel respected and more important.” – Those are the words of Joyce E. A. Russell an Organisational psychologist and leadership expert.
Solutions Focused
In a recent poll 73% of respondents from more than 100 organisations said they had their names mispronounced. They told us it made them feel ‘not valued or important’, ‘disrespected’ and ‘that they didn’t belong’.
If someone has a name that people find difficult to pronounce quite often what happens is:
1. We pronounce the name incorrectly and the individual is then known by that ‘new name’.
2. We give a nickname whether the individual likes it or not.
3. The individual gives a surrogate name just to make things easier, for example Abdullah becomes Jeff, or
4. We simply don’t say their name.
88% of respondents from more than 100 organisations thought a phonetic name spelling campaign would help tackle race inequality.
Participants from a recent event had this to say about #MyNameIs:
“There is nothing wrong with someone, getting the pronunciation or spelling wrong if they’re unfamiliar with your name. However, if they refuse to try to say it correctly or they call you by something else entirely, that is a bigoted choice.”- Uju Asika, Bringing Up Race.
“Really valuable. We have people in our organisation that westernise their names and it takes their ID away. We shouldn’t have people feeling like this.”
“I’ll definitely be taking this back to include as part of our celebration of Black History Month”
The origins of #MyNameIs
#MyNameIs began trending on twitter in October 2020 when Kamila Harris had her name mispronounced by a Senator. Since then it has been used a number of times in the ethnic minority community to emphasis the personal significance of names. Race Equality Matters workshopped the idea throughout 2021 scaling up to a campaign launch in October. Now with greater focus on EDI in organisations than ever before we are championing our #MyNameIs campaign to normalise and encourage the phonetic spellings of names in the workplace and drive inclusivity. Get involved now.