Reclaiming My Name

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the story of a woman of color who identifies as a Latina and as an immigrant. She describes her experiences growing up in the United States as an undocumented child and her interactions facing a dominant patriarchal and racist culture that refuses to respect foreign naming practices and aims to enforce oppressive practices for immigrants, particularly to those of color. Additionally, the author narrates her journey in reclaiming her name and utilizes this process of reclamation as a form of liberation, an ongoing process in which she still engages. Keeping in mind her roles as an administrator in higher education and as a doctoral student in the same field, the author also provides specific instances of when she faced oppressive naming practices throughout her educational journey and at her work setting. The author further reflects on scholars who have discussed structural intersectionality while connecting this academic work to her lived experiences and to the realities that other immigrant women of color face. Finally, the author discusses her responsibilities as an educator and describes ways in which she can contribute to the call to social justice.