The Lived Name Initiative
In 2019, Bowdoin launched the Lived Name Initiative, allowing students to specify their preferred, or “lived,” name so that it can be officially recognized and used by the College, from email and the student directory to Blackboard and other campus systems. The initiative’s goal is to recognize those who have changed their gender expression, go by their middle name, use an English name instead of a name in their native language, or otherwise prefer a different name. In 2020, Phase II of the Lived Name Initiative introduced the option for Bowdoin community members to include their pronouns on identifying documents to reduce assumptions regarding gender identity and to create a more inclusive atmosphere for genderqueer and gender non-conforming people.
The Lived Name Initiative, poster, 2019