Draw Me Your Name: Name-Based Discrimination and Identity in Turkey’s Socio-Political Context and Beyond

This study explores the sociocultural phenomenon of name-based discrimination in Turkey, focussing on individuals with names perceived as Kurdish, Arabic, or Persian. Using a multi-modal qualitative design enriched with quantitative insights, the research examines how names function as socio-politic...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ulum, Ömer Gökhan 1983- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2025
In: Race and social problems
Year: 2025, Volume: 17, Issue: 4, Pages: 519-550
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Keywords:
Anthroponymy
Cultural Identity
Labelling theory
Marginalisation
Name Bias
Social Identity
Socioonomastics
Turkish context
Description
Summary:This study explores the sociocultural phenomenon of name-based discrimination in Turkey, focussing on individuals with names perceived as Kurdish, Arabic, or Persian. Using a multi-modal qualitative design enriched with quantitative insights, the research examines how names function as socio-political markers that shape identity, social interactions, and exclusion. Drawing on Social Identity Theory and Labelling Theory, the study reveals how individuals experience stigma and develop coping strategies in response to implicit and explicit biases. While rooted in the Turkish context, the findings speak to broader global concerns about how names intersect with ethnicity, perceived race, and ideology—informing experiences of marginalisation across diverse societies. The study contributes to the growing field of socio-onomastics and anti-discrimination research, offering insights relevant to multicultural policy-making and educational reform globally.
ISSN:1867-1756
DOI:10.1007/s12552-025-09458-w