Academia and changing names

[Floating]

Ok, so I know I don't post on this site that often, but I have something that's really been bugging me recently. 

I'm a grad student and I'll be finishing my Ph.D. in a year or two, I've published papers under my male name and already have two degrees under my male names as well.  However I may legally change my name before I finish my PhD, or at least for sure afterwards.

What I'm worried about is the consequences of changing my name and legal sex while in academia.  I'm hoping there are people out there that have had experience in this area (or something similar). 

Will it be difficult to retain association with my publications after a name change?  Will it compromise my chances of getting academic positions in the future because it will look like I have less publications?  Or will I have to specifically state that I legally changed my name and sex.  Will I need to include this type of information on my CV?

Could I minimize the effects if I were to change my legal name before I got my final degree?

I mean I know that alot of women in academia don't change their last name when they get married for similar concerns.  I also intend to change my last name as well so it won't seem like there is any connection between my old publications and any new ones I have.

Anyway, I'm just wondering if anybody is or was in the same situation.  I'd really appreciate any advice that can be spared.

Thanks.

-Floating. ^_^

[Phenomenal]

Hi Floating,

It sounds like you've got a lot to think about. I'm in a similar situation but I'm switching fields now (doing a medical degree) so I'm probably going to just try to get something new out soon in the new name and let the old publications drop off the CV. I think what you do with your male-name publications just depends on whether you want people to know about your history. Maybe you could be open about it at first then let the old papers disappear after you're established if you want to keep the gender stuff private? The implications on your career might depend on your field but most universities will have anti-discrimination policies. (But I'm not transitioned yet so some of the others here might have more idea of how much those policies are worth...)

You should be able to change the name on your old degree certificates - at least, you usually can here in the UK. For me I definitely want to finish transition before I graduate but I suppose it just depends on how you want to play it...

Good luck with everything. PhDs are tough enough without this little extra challenge but I'm sure you'll be great.

Take care,
Grace

[Arch]

This is one reason I made sure I changed my name before I finished my undergrad work. Guess I got lucky there, because that was years ago, but only now am I really "out" and looking to transition.

All of which is irrelevant to your situation. Well, I was wondering whether you have the right to republish any of your previously published work. If so, then you could think about getting those papers back out there but in your new name. Could be one way around the problem, maybe.

Is there any way to have your old diplomas changed? I would talk to the institution that granted the degrees.

I honestly don't know whether a name and sex change will render it difficult for you to "keep" your publications yours. But it seems to me that it's best to change your name before you get the doctorate. I could be wrong, though.

Keep us in the loop, huh? You've put some important questions out here. Even if I can't help, I'd like to know what information you turn up.

[SusanK]

As said, you will be able to get new diplomas (probably, check with the universities), but not the past publications. They're said and done, and you will have to refer to them as your old self if you want to use them. The key is getting the PhD, which is cool, done after your name change. That's what people will use as a professional reference. And all future publications will be under your new name.

As for your CV, you can list them and let people ask you about it, which you can say it was your old life. I wouldn't put the change on the CV except as a label "previous publications" and no mention of name or gender change. Let folks ask or connect the dots.

Good luck with the PhD. I stopped at the MS degree, the need for life and work got in the way. And just curious, what's the (general as not to give away too much) subject of it?

[Hypatia]

Keep your original last name. Change to a new first name that starts with the same letter as the original. Then you should be able to fudge over the difference easily enough. You could list your publications on your CV normally without needing to point out your gender history. Especially since in a lot of disciplines, papers are cited only by first initials, last name.

[Purple Pimp]

Well, I guess it all hinges on how you want to deal with the old publications.  For example, were you going to leave them on your CV with your old name cited, or just let people assume it was written under your female name?  If you have no troubles with people knowing that you're trans, then I guess you could add a little footnote to your CV explaining that article a or b were written under a different name or pseudonym.  If you don't want people to know you're trans, I don't see any option but to let the old papers drop off of the CV.  It would just take to much explaining that would give you away, I would think.

A lowly M.A. student,
Lia

[Floating]

Wow.. Thank you so much all for replying.  This has been really helpful.

I've been doing some thinking about this.  I have two publications.  And from what I understand. I CAN republish them under a new name.  Unfortunately this is a fruitless effort because if they're significant papers, they've already been cited.  However they aren't significant publications.  RIght now I only have the two publications so I might just let them drop off the face of the world.  However I have more than one paper that might be published shortly. There's no chance that I can get my name changed by that time (I'm no were near ready to live full time yet). 

Which means I'll have to publish with my old name.  While my previous two publications have my name written out in full (as per the journal's requirements) I'm going to insist one future publications being published with just my first initials.  Which should eliminate the direct association with a male name.(Thank you Hypathia for the inspiration about using just initials). 

For my degree's I've contacted my previous university about the possibility of changing my name on degree's.  They have yet to respond.  Also, I hadn't considered my thesis.  It's in my male name as well. THis can't be changed either, but it's not something that will be listed on my CV anyway so I'm not overly concerned about it.

I've decided that I will try and transition before I convocate so that maybe some papers, my future thesis and my degree will have the correct name at least. 

I think I can just list all my publications with the initials and different name and it won't be too much of a difference. I'll just have to make sure that I make it point out that I was first author on those papers under a different legal name.  Any questions afterward can be dismissed in person or private communication.

Well, that's my plan. Of course it has a lot of implicit IFs hidden in there, but I think it's a good plan.
I'll keep you all posted when I get a response from the university.  Maybe someone else may find the information useful in the future. ^_^

SusanK,
I'm getting my degree in Physics.  I generally don't mention it because I don't want to sound pretentious.  But recently my friend had mentioned to me that I often concern myself too much with what other's think and not what I care about.  So I'm trying to get over my insecurities and just be myself. Regardless of what that is. ^_^

[Phenomenal]

Are your latest papers already acceptedand ready to go? Because this might be the one time when the snail pace of peer review could actually come in handy! You might not be ready to change your name by the time you submit them but what about by the time they're published? Maybe you could send a note to the editor when you get to the proofing stage. Just a thought!

G

[Purple Pimp]

Floating,

Is there any reason that you have to have gotten a court-ordered name change in order to publish under your female name?  Under American law, a name change is just as valid by using it in daily life as by going to court.  Of course, for interactions with "official" insitutions like Social Security and the DMV, they only recognize court-ordered name changes.  But for publishing a paper, you should have every right to publish it under your female name, even if it's a de facto usage rather than de jure.

Lia

[Floating]

Grace,
They're not ready to go yet. I still have some work to do on them.    So things should work out fine with that.  However, oddly enough, the system isn't that slow, and since my supervisor/co-author happens to be the editor of the journal (a really huge important one too) the review process seems to be quicker than average. ^_^


Lia,
Hmmm. I hadn't thought of that. That's a really good idea.  It wouldn't work for the degree, but for any publications I don't really see a problem with that.  Thanks!  That was really helpful!.

[SusanK]

SusanK,
I'm getting my degree in Physics.  I generally don't mention it because I don't want to sound pretentious.  But recently my friend had mentioned to me that I often concern myself too much with what other's think and not what I care about.  So I'm trying to get over my insecurities and just be myself. Regardless of what that is. ^_^

That's cool. Emily Hobbes, in the Vagina documentary, was doing her PhD in Physics (UCLA?) as I recall.

As for the old publications, no matter how small they were, they're likely listed on-line and possibly available (check with the publisher and/or organization) - trust me, one of mine from graduate school is now available over 30 years later, but if people want to read them, they'll more than likely use the publication volume/number or year/series and then the title instead of your name.

The reality is that your stuck with you old name, but over time it will fade into the background. Your thesis and dissertation won't matter much past a few years out of school, your research and publications will, and changing your name helps. And as much as people say having your old life hang around, I wouldn't worry and take pride in your accomplishments.

I have a number of government publications in mine, and I don't care if people ask about it. It's my old life and I'm proud about it. So I'm changing. Gee, last I heard that's life, we all do and some more than others.

Good luck.