Our Names and Our Freedoms: The Relationship
Our names play a significant role in how we identify ourselves and how we are identified by others. In what ways, and in what instances, would a change in name bring about a change in freedom? There have been many instances throughout history where certain groups and individuals were forced to change their names. There have also been several instances in which individuals have made this change voluntarily. This site will be exploring the impacts of these changes and whether or not this change infringed upon the freedoms of those groups and individuals.
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Name Changes over time
This site will explore how impact of a name change on an individual's freedom during these 5 time frames:
- 1765-1880: The Law of Coverture
- 1880-1890: Native Americans
- 1890-1910: Reconstruction
- 1939-1945: The Holocaust
- 1964-Present: Voluntary Name Changes
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Accessible Screen cast of timeline:
A name represents identity, a deep feeling and holds tremendous significance to its owner."
- Rachel Ingber
Meet The owners of this site
Ambrie Kidder
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Joseph Larson
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Madisyn Smith
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Abby Reeder
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Bailey Yates
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Our Inspiration:
When reading the novel Wide Sargasso Sea, our team noticed the correlation between the main character's change in name and her change in freedom. The main character, Antoinette, gradually began to be referred to as Bertha (a name that did not appeal to her). She also gradually had her freedoms taken from her by her husband and was eventually locked in an attic. There seemed to be a correlation between the changes in her identity and her freedoms. We wondered if her loss of identity was a result of her loss of freedom or if her loss of freedom resulted in a diminishing identity. In order to determine the direction of this relationship we tried to think of instances in which this correlation existed in real life.
When reading the novel Wide Sargasso Sea, our team noticed the correlation between the main character's change in name and her change in freedom. The main character, Antoinette, gradually began to be referred to as Bertha (a name that did not appeal to her). She also gradually had her freedoms taken from her by her husband and was eventually locked in an attic. There seemed to be a correlation between the changes in her identity and her freedoms. We wondered if her loss of identity was a result of her loss of freedom or if her loss of freedom resulted in a diminishing identity. In order to determine the direction of this relationship we tried to think of instances in which this correlation existed in real life.