Freakonomics Asks: Can your given name keep you from getting a job?

[BrittanyTheGenius]

"ppl who choose names that are very black" . . . . .

am i the only one who sees something wrong with this statement ?

[WHERESMYDUST]

@BrittanyTheGenius

no your not worng i don't care what other may think ! there the ones who are worng, look people just pick a name that will give your kid a fighting chance in life if you have a problem -don't make it your kids - can you see them in 20 years because what mistake you made 'cause you have a problem wt other races - think that an i have a bridge to sell you ! ....good post genius

[buzzclick500]

Oh, I know a lot of Caucasian girls named Shaneekwa--are these people out of their minds? 8-)

[Asinima]

lol'd when she said shaniqua

[Kougeru]

ugly voice..they should've hired someone that didnt have a gratng voice to do the lines for the Middle Eastern doctor

[dbx2soha]

Stop naming your kids stupid shit like lashaunda or something...

[BKVeggiefly]

This is true. My name is Zaza and lots of people think that I am black before they meet me. The only people who don't seem to judge me by my name are people in the art or music community. These people seem to be more open minded. It is much easier for me to get a job as an artist than it is to be a secretary even though I am equally qualified in both and I am probably even more qualified for secretarial positions than the people they hire! It's stupid that people are so racist.

[marcelle215]

Letitia and Lucretia are names of former first ladies of the United States....just sayin

[buzzclick500]

@marcelle215 : And one of those first ladies had a front "shelf" that you could set a tea service on---whew!  ;])

[personguyy]

Economics shows us that we take pretty much everything for granted.

[xBloodfatherx]

chesta.

[tazztt1]

Weak survey at best but the author didn't go into the reasons of how the likelyhood of being hired is related to names, but merely that, it is.

Of 100 Mikes... 85 are educated capable and worthy. Of 100 Marys... 90 are educated capable and worthy. Of 100 Stephens... 80 are educated capable and worthy.

Of 100 Tyrones... 50 are... Of 100 Shaniquas... 35 are... Of 100 Terrances...

40 are...

Is this so hard to understand?



[aehoovler]

@tazztt1 But in their survey, "Mike" had the same resume as "Tyrone", but Mike got chosen more. so "Mike" and "Tyrone" were equally educated and capable, and yet Mike was the one that was hired.

[tazztt1]

@aehoovler ... my point exactly... history has shown us there is a direct relationship between a persons name and their 'culture'. Though not fair on an individual basis, it has been proven that persons from a particular culture are less desireable as employees overall, regardless of their qualifications.

[dianniscool]

i know more non black moniques than black ones but names can set you up for failure && so can the sound of your voice

[FloridaRaider]

I'd speculate that phonetically spelled names get called less often on their resumes too. . ie Jahkob, Tifnee

[4muLAkonnekt]

haha....this is just sad.....but its the world we live in I guess....even with my christian name I still can't get a job because of my African surname.....lol!!!!

[behinddacurtain]

I live in Austria, and I am a white person but I have a foreign sounding name and ein hardly come to Job interviews since my name is not "austrian" I am qualified plus my application map looks great even professionals told me that so it is really amazing but I would never change my name we just have to hang on

[dabigkahuna777]

fascinating, but fairly obvious. Nothing new that most people don't already suspect in the job market.