Bizarre Take #15: The Problems of Having an Ethnic Name

                                            



This past week, we read two very insightful pieces, one being the ““The F Word”, a story about Dumas’s experiences having an ethnic name, and her difficulty with being accepted into American culture. She encounters many struggles being an Iranian immigrant, and oftentimes, Americans’ perception of her culture is very ignorant. She receives many negative attitudes due to her real name, and whenever she adopts her new one, she is treated much differently. This contrast shows how Americans can be unmindful of these immigrants' names and how they approach different cultures. This piece really resonated with me as I also have immigrant parents, and having an ethnic name, I have experienced similar struggles to Dumas. I am able to empathize with her.


Dumas uses a variety of rhetorical devices to further her point about the ignorance towards different cultures, and how despite being claimed as the “melting point”, rejects people like Dumas. One metaphor that Dumas utilizes is the “spice cabinet”. She writes, “She was recently transferred to New York where, from what I’ve heard, she might meet an immigrant or two and, who knows, she just might have to make some room in her spice cabinet”, showing how meeting new people is inevitable and something you have to eventually face. It emphasizes the mix of cultures and customs America has, and how you will always encounter different types of people. Dumas also uses diction to show her sarcasm and show her annoyed attitude towards Americans at certain instances. Additionally, despite the piece being conservational, she uses some academic jargon. She also uses irony to reveal her perspective on Americans, shown when she says, “The receptionist tried again, “Fritzy, Fritzy DumbAss.” This shows irony as the receptionist herself is the dumba**, and is an example of the Americans showing ignorance towards ethnic names. Throughout her piece, Dumas also incorporates humor to shed light on Americans’ blatant disrespect towards immigrants in a light-hearted manner.


  • Prisha Pachpande

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