Krasny, Karen A.2015-01-262015-01-262014-08-072015-01-26http://hdl.handle.net/10315/28249This qualitative study addresses name choice among Chinese/Chinese-heritage students at two Ontario universities by asking if identity perception impacts the decision to maintain/change a name and who has agency in these naming choices. Ten out of the 11 participants opted for name change. Six participants attributed English name change to their teachers/education system in China; four asserted full agency in name choice; five were told to choose an English name, but selected their own; and two participants claimed no agency in either change or choice. Based on a grounded theory analysis, social and cultural capital (Bourdieu, 1992), Chinese naming habitus within a Canadian field (Bourdieu, 1984), and agency emerged as strong themes. Through these themes, participants’ negotiation of the third space (Bhabha, 1994) became apparent. This study suggests a need for teachers to gain cultural onomastic awareness so as to respect naming choices and agency of students in Canadian classrooms.enAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.EducationAsian studiesElectronic Thesis or Dissertation2015-01-26AgencyName choiceName changeOnomasticsChineseSocial capitalCultural capitalHabitus and fieldBourdieuThird spaceCross-cultural