In an attention-getting act in the name of activism, an American teenager from North Carolina has changed her name from Jennifer Thornburg to CutoutDissection.com.
The 19-year-old chose to legally change her name to the address of an anti-dissection website in an act of protest against the dissection of animals in schools. The girl is an intern for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals; the actual website CutoutDissection.com is operated by PETA.
Implications - The girl, CutoutDissection.com, often just goes by Cutout for short and states that she often has to repeat her new name to people she is meeting for the first time. She claims that many people ask her questions about the website after they learn of her name.
Name-Changing for Activism
PETA Intern Becomes CutoutDissection.com
Trend Themes
1. Activism Through Name Change - Opportunity to create more visibility for causes and increase engagement by legally changing names to promote websites or organizations.
2. Protest Against Animal Dissection - Growing trend of individuals and organizations using creative and attention-grabbing methods to speak out against the dissection of animals in schools and promote cruelty-free education.
3. Impactful Internships - Growing trend towards interns taking bold and innovative actions to promote a company or organization's message and increase awareness of social issues.
Industry Implications
1. Animal Rights Advocacy - There is an opportunity for animal rights organizations to leverage attention-grabbing methods, including name changes, to increase engagement and awareness of animal rights issues.
2. Education - There is an opportunity for educational institutions to explore alternative methods of teaching without relying on animal dissection in the classroom.
3. Internship Programs - Companies and organizations could benefit from interns who are willing to take creative and unconventional approaches to promote their mission and generate social impact.