Kevinism and Chantalism: Names as the key to prejudice!

Kevinism and Chantalism: Names as the key to prejudice!

The term Kevinism describes a prejudice in which humans are discriminated against based on their first name. Especially names like Kevin and Chantal are the focus of such stereotypes. The negative perception of people with these names can already begin in primary school, which can have significant consequences for their educational opportunities.

People with first names such as Kevin or Mandy had to learn that they are often encountered with skepticism when it comes to their academic achievements and social skills. An investigation by the University of Oldenburg from 2009 confirmed that teachers: internal prejudices due to the first names, which affect their expectations and thus on the students: inside. The study, in which 2,000 teachers took part: inside, shows that names like Charlotte, Marie and Lukas are often perceived as positive and strong, while names such as Kevin and Justin are associated with the fact that their carriers often come from less privileged social backgrounds.

The effects of first names on perception

A study by Psychologists from the Technical Technical Chemnitz from 2006 under the direction of Professor Udo Rudolph illustrates how deeply rooted these prejudices in our society. The results showed that people with modern names are perceived younger and more attractive than those with names that are considered old -fashioned. Names not only shape the image that others have, but can also influence the possibilities that are open to us.

Especially in the education system, such prejudices can lead to disadvantages. Students: Inside with less recognized names run the risk of being put in a drawer that does not meet their actual skills. Prejudices that are observed in the case of Mandy and Chantal are often shown in negative assumptions about their academic performance and behaviors.

The discussion about the term "Alpha-Kevin", which was elected youth word of the year in 2015, shows how anchored Kevinism is in society. While critics perceive this expression as discriminatory, supporters argue that he only belongs to the youth language and is not meant seriously. This controversy clearly shows how language can contribute to the stigmatization of people with certain first names.

This day, it is more important than ever to deal with these prejudices. Research shows that the name does not determine the skills or potential of a person. Linguistic attention and sensitization in education are therefore of great importance to enable fair and equal treatment of all students: inside.

Further information on this topic can be found at www.wmn.de