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Say My Name: Bullying Marginalizes Through Microaggressions
Getting my name wrong equates to questioning my agency.
What’s in a name? Everything.
Your name is literally you—the first marker of your identity.
It’s personal. It’s important.
So when people in power can’t bother to get your name right, they are saying, “You’re not worth remembering. You’re not worth my time. You’re an outsider.” Not getting your name right is a subtle yet powerful form of bullying. It’s another potent ingredient in the recipe for diminishing and demeaning behavior.
For reasons that only my mom and dad know, my name is pronounced “Mee-gun,” not to be confused with the more popular pronunciation, “May-gun.” I use a gauge to determine if I’ll correct someone who ...
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