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Having More Perspective On Names And Potential Bias

Janet Simon DPM

07/08/2020

During research to prepare for presentations that were unfortunately rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I became more aware of the impact that bias has on all of us.

I recently attended a virtual Compassion In Action Healthcare Conference, which is run by the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare. This organization is committed to supporting health-care professionals with additional resources on caring for their patients, themselves and their teams during this challenging time. The faculty at this conference presented ways that health-care workers can manage stress and discussed what health-care leaders can do to support their teams during the COVID-19 crisis.¹

During this conference, I heard how negatively impactful it can be when one does not say another person’s name in conversation. I personally have not experienced this as I have often joked about having a “simple” name. However, there are apparently many physicians who feel disrespected when one does not even show an effort at pronouncing their names. I believe this is true for patients too. I always ask my patients how to correctly pronounce their names and do my best to do so. A suggestion offered during the conference was for the physician to develop an “elevator” response, in which one could phonetically sound out his or her name and perhaps a pneumonic to remember it by.

Name bias is a relatively common bias that some people may deal with multiple times a day. A person’s name is the first thing you ask anybody, anywhere, in any circumstances. It may even be the first thing that you learn when you are learning a new language (“Hello, my name is …”). This is acknowledgement of one’s humanism on a very basic level.

Your name is something that you usually have no say in choosing as it given to you by your parents. It may be imbued with meaning that is unique to you and your family so having your name used against you can be incredibly hurtful. Often, the person who acts out the bias is completely oblivious to the fact that he or she has just completely discounted that person’s culture, history and upbringing.

Another insidious name bias is when one makes a statement such as, “You don’t look like a (your name)”. What does a name actually look like? Again, the person who acts out this bias may not be fully aware of his or her hurtful behavior but is verbalizing long held, knee-jerk beliefs.

Naming may also help us in conversations on racism. By calling out and naming racism for what it is, we engage in a fundamental and critical form of resistance, reclaiming truth and reality. Professionally, we are often guided to find broadly popular “common denominator” issues and avoid divisive ones. By naming and framing racism, people can no longer be in denial about basing their actions on myths that justify those actions.

While we may never understand the full extent of others’ experiences, we should commit to listening, educating ourselves and doing the work to end inequality. Recognizing that names honor and show respect may be a beginning point.

Dr. Simon is a Past President and Executive Director of the New Mexico Podiatric Medical Association, and is a Board Member of the APMA-PAC. She is also a member of the APMA Public Health Committee and the American Association for Women Podiatrists. Dr. Simon is in private practice in Albuquerque, N.M.

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