Other Jennifer Projects...

Last night, during a fit of insomnia I found myself in front of the computer at 3 a.m.  So, I thought I would check the site meter on "The Jennifer Project" blog.   I was too lazy to type in my blog address, so I googled "The Jennifer Project." 

Um.

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that there were a zillion "The Jennifer Project" links (it's not that unique a name, let's face it folks), but I was... Not only was my blog the... um... 9 billionth listing in the search, but I learned:

1.  There is a band named The Jennifer Project.  No one in the band is named Jennifer.  I feel like there are enough of us with the name so people who don't have it should not be allowed to claim it.  I'm so sure.  I liked a few of their songs, though... 

2.  The Jennifer Project is a book by Clyde W. Burleson about a highly? effective? acquisition of intelligence (with the code name:  Jennifer) following the sinking of a Soviet submarine in the early 1970s.  This book was also made into a Discovery Channel show.

3.  The Jennifer Project is a qualitative research initiative undertaken by Gay and Gender Research.  They describe their Jennifer Project:   "In a world of strict gender roles and blatant heterosexism, one would wonder how an anatomical female who self-identifies as a, "bisexual multi-gendered person" could survive and thrive.  This project is a qualitative exploration into the life of such a person, who will be referred to as "Jennifer." 

4.  You should check out this The Jennifer Project blog entry from Ms. Prolix.

and...

5.  Another Jennifer searching for Jennifers:  http://www.youjennifer.com/2007/09/jennifer-project.html

Moving Forward...

At this point, I have about 15 Jennifers interested in having their photographs taken for The Jennifer Project.  I'd like to have about 40, ideally... so I can have a variety of looks and ages represented in the project.  So, I'm still looking for more people / places / things named Jennifer.  If you know anyone, please have them contact me:  coolchickphoto@me.com.

I've almost secured the venue for the first Jennifer photo shoot.  I'm waiting to get a confirmation, but it looks like I might be able to use the theatre at my school which would give me some lighting to play with, and is a fairly convenient location for most of the Jennifers.

Now, I need to start making a schedule.

I got an email from another Jennifer yesterday who now lives in San Diego.  She said she would like to participate in the project.  I'll send her a nametag and have her take her own photos...

She says:

I've been a Jennifer since the 22nd day of November, 1975. When I was a little girl, I was a Jenny. Actually, my full nickname was Jenny Penny. There were always at least 3 other Jennifer's in my class and I was not from a large town. Around age 8 or 9, I decided  not to be a Jenny anymore because [...it] just sounded too childish. Then I was a Jennifer again. Until college. In college, I was a Jenn (with 2 n's). Jenn was then shortened to J Mack [part of her last name] - because there were too many Jen's, Jenn's, Jenny's, and Jennifer's at my very large state university to identify me just by my first name. After law school, I chose to be a Jennifer again. Now, I don't mind being called Jenny and even think it's sweet. My son is named Nash. No way in hell he was  going to be named Jack (the male Jennifer...).

A Toddler!

Most of the Jennifers I have been in contact with since beginning The Jennifer Project have been in their late 20s or 30s.  The urban rumor claims the movie Love Story starring Jennifer O'Neill sparked a wave of interest in the name.  Because hundreds of thousands of people were named Jennifer in the 1970s and 1980s, as these Jennifers and their contemporaries are having children, parents everywhere are avoiding the name.  Which makes the name "Jennifer" a rather unique name for a toddler.  

I heard from one (via her mother) yesterday.  Here is an excerpt from the email:

My name's not Jennifer, but my little 18 month old's is. Before she was born, we heard lots of comments when we told people the name we had picked - "oh, isn't THAT an original name (sarcastic tone lost in this email)".  The funniest thing is that Jennifer is a very original name for a little 1.5 year old girl these days! While many of her friends are named McKenna, Emma, Madelyn, Riley, Zoe etc, but she's just Jenny. Her name fits her very well because she's cute, smart, and has a really funny sense of humor.  She was named after our beloved Aunt Jenny who died much too young (age 43) one year before our Jenny was born. 

Cool!

I can't wait to meet her.

As I'm putting together the project, I'm hoping I can find a broad age range of people named Jennifer -- children, adults, elders.  I think it's important to advertise the "Calls for Jennifer" somewhere other than Craig's List... 

Any suggestions on how to find more Jennifers?

My first photo shoot will be held on May 17.  I have about 15 people interested in participating so far.  Awesome!