Hi Tracey, I was shocked to discover Quebec's laws regarding women changing their names. Honestly, it sounds draconian. Since this was the first essay I've read from you, I feel like I've learned a lot about the trauma surrounding your name. I wrote about my name last year here: https://lanivcox.substack.com/p/your-name-tells-a-story-heres-mine
But my story is lighthearted, because other than my last name sounding like a male sexual organ, the stories surrounding my name suit me just fine.
And yes to this, "I don’t think I need to change my name to find my place in the world", I 100% agree. 💯🌟
Thanks for reading, Lani! It’s still so unbelievable to me that the university changed my identification, including the name on my email, without any prior warning or asking me about it. And I get that different places have different rules, but I don’t live there! I think I may delve a little deeper into the complexities of policies that affect names and identity.
I look forward to reading your more lighthearted piece. Thanks for sharing!
Tracey, what a thoughtful and layered piece. You really helped me to understand the complexities of our names and our identities and how it’s all interwoven, and in painful ways when, as you say, you’re living through a ‘DNA surprise.’ As for your belonging in the world, and in your body, in the wake of trauma, I can see, through your honesty and openness here, how hard that is to wrestle with. This especially helped me understand: ‘. I was angry and shocked, not understanding how a change to MY legal name, could be made without my permission. It felt like they were imposing an identity onto me that wasn’t mine, throwing buckets of salt in the wound caused by the DNA discovery.’ Thanks for letting me into the story of your name/s. And I do hope you retire to Italy and join me in Europe!
Hi Tracey, I was shocked to discover Quebec's laws regarding women changing their names. Honestly, it sounds draconian. Since this was the first essay I've read from you, I feel like I've learned a lot about the trauma surrounding your name. I wrote about my name last year here: https://lanivcox.substack.com/p/your-name-tells-a-story-heres-mine
But my story is lighthearted, because other than my last name sounding like a male sexual organ, the stories surrounding my name suit me just fine.
And yes to this, "I don’t think I need to change my name to find my place in the world", I 100% agree. 💯🌟
Thanks for reading, Lani! It’s still so unbelievable to me that the university changed my identification, including the name on my email, without any prior warning or asking me about it. And I get that different places have different rules, but I don’t live there! I think I may delve a little deeper into the complexities of policies that affect names and identity.
I look forward to reading your more lighthearted piece. Thanks for sharing!
These nuances are so important!
Thanks, Peg 💜
Tracey, what a thoughtful and layered piece. You really helped me to understand the complexities of our names and our identities and how it’s all interwoven, and in painful ways when, as you say, you’re living through a ‘DNA surprise.’ As for your belonging in the world, and in your body, in the wake of trauma, I can see, through your honesty and openness here, how hard that is to wrestle with. This especially helped me understand: ‘. I was angry and shocked, not understanding how a change to MY legal name, could be made without my permission. It felt like they were imposing an identity onto me that wasn’t mine, throwing buckets of salt in the wound caused by the DNA discovery.’ Thanks for letting me into the story of your name/s. And I do hope you retire to Italy and join me in Europe!
Thanks, Amy. I think I have might have more to explore and write about names and identity.
I would LOVE to see you in Europe one day!