She Has No Name
Story Time
One rainy weeknight I sought refuge in the BMV Bookstore at Yonge & Eglinton. While wandering the aisles, I stumbled upon a book titled The Power of Names. In it, Himes explores the complex relationship people have with their names and how names—both consciously and subconsciously—shape our lives. Some names lead us toward success, while others limit us in ways we may not even realize. As a then novice psychology student, the book posed questions that fascinated me:If something as seemingly small as a name could affect how we are perceived and significantly influenced our life's trajectory, what other subtle forces were shaping us, without our knowledge?
It is often easier to conform to others’ biases about us, as they are more likely to react positively when their assumptions are confirmed. This positive reinforcement encourages us to squeeze into those expectations, in return. Over time, the more often we experience a specific bias, the more it distorts our understanding of our true selves.
It was there that I realized, I liked my name. The uniqueness of my name—uncommon in my region—not only helped me avoid name bias but, also spared me from the exhausting task of managing the dissonance between others’ perceptions and my actual self.I felt liberated by the distinctiveness of my name—unrestricted by gender, race, or any arbitrary details.
That feeling of being limitless was magical. But in a world where societal demands can easily cloud our sense of self, it’s easy to lose that magic and instead become defined by others' impressions of us.
She Has No Name was founded to capture the essence of that liberation. We aim to offer a limitless range of services, inspiring our community to break free from expectations, embrace their true identity, and always remain magical.
