Names are very powerful and significant, especially in the African context. Across societies, there is a universal, albeit taken-for-granted fact that all human beings have names. Names Fashioned by Gender is a collection of essays on onomastics-a linguistics field of study focusing on the origin, form, history and use of proper names. The study of naming potentially provides significant evidence about the role of gender in the assimilation and/or enculturation processes as personal names evoke insight into the construction of gender and personhood in African societies.

The book takes intellectual course from the idea that how names are viewed and used is heavily context-dependent and gendered. It demonstrates that personal names are narratives derived from different contexts within various cultures and circumstances subsequently imposing different identities on name bearers. Through persuasive essays, this book elucidates that naming is an activity that needs to be conducted cautiously because names tend to determine the destiny and character of an individual.

Print editions not for sale in Sub-Saharan Africa.

About the Author

Thenjiwe Meyiwa, a feminist scholar, is the lead editor of this book. She is Deputy Vice-chancellor for Research, Innovation, Commercialisation and Postgraduate Studies at Unisa. She is a member of various parastatals, community and civil society organisations, such as the Rural Women's Movement where she is the Advisory Board member; the South African National Heraldry Council where she serves as its Chairperson and a Deputy Chair of the National Heritage Council; to name but a few. She has authored several research gender studies articles, including co-publishing five books.

Madoda Cekiso, the co-editor of this book, is senior professor at Tshwane University of Technology's Department of English. He has published widely in the field of reading and writing with a significant number of his recent research projects and publications focusing on the gender analysis within this subject field.

Book Information
ISBN 9781032628288
Author Thenjiwe Meyiwa
Format Paperback
Page Count 342
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd