Voices of diversity : multi-culturalism in America

Abstract

Sengstock’s books seeks to better understand multi-culturalism in America. From pages 99-100 it briefly discusses names and name changes among Americans with non Anglo-Saxon surnames. Sengstock notes that surnames are often used as an indicator of social group belonging, even if the individual in question does not personally associate with that group. Sengstock notes that this tendency of cultural association based on surnames is problematic, as many individuals may be only partially descended from the group in question, or may not be descended from them at all in the case of married women who use their husband’s name.