Name Change & Bias

Apparently my last name isn't good enough. Apparently certain people in certain organisations believe Anglo is best. Apparently this ISN'T a country of immigrants (and convicts). I've been told in hush hush gossipy tones that perhaps I should use Sam's names instead of my own.

'Employers have negative opinions of foreign sounding names.' 'Asian sounding names are often automatically disqualified.' 'Sad but it's how things are.' 'People just assume that you don't have the right to work here.' '[Sam's last name] would probably be better received than Zarraouti.' Gah! Are we not in a supposedly modern world?

I know I know, life is not all buttercups and pansies. We are all, a la Avenue Q, a little bit racist. We are all ignorant bits of carbon. We as a society are stupid (more often than not). It's just that I didn't think I'd be given this kind of advice. I mean it's one thing to be judged for being American but it's a totally different ballgame if well meaning people are telling me to change my last name for fear that I might be considered.... Considered what exactly? Considered non-white when I'm white? Considered unfit for a position because I may be Asian or African or Martian? Considered not well-spoken or well-dressed or well-groomed?

All that being said, I am not changing my name. I am not changing who I am nor my family history so that some HR person can then decide that I'm all right because I am something that I may or may not be. Amen.

The job hunt otherwise goes well.