Why should women change their names on getting married?

[livingdead]

It is regarded as tradition for wives to take a man's name after marriage. Why, asks Dr Sophie Coulombeau.

My name is Sophie Coulombeau. But a year from now, after the fuss from my wedding has died down, it could be something rather different. For me, to adopt the surname of my partner and relinquish my own would profoundly affect how I think about my own identity.

On the one hand, it would bind us into a family unit and make it easier to know what to write on the birth certificates if we ever have children. But on the other, it would make me first and foremost a wife, while my husband would remain, quite simply, himself. Introducing myself as "Sophie Hardiman" would mean that saying "I do" had fundamentally changed the answer to the question "Who am I?"

If I chose to take my new husband's name, I'd be far from alone. A Eurobarometer survey, conducted in 1994, suggested that 94% of British women took their husbands' names when they got married. Recent smaller-scale research, however, suggests that this proportion has shrunk over the last two decades, especially among highly-educated and younger women. In 2013, academic Dr Rachel Thwaites found that 75% of respondents took their husband's names. Just last month, the Discourses of Marriage Research Group, a multi-institutional network interested in marriage equality, found that 54% of female respondents did the same.

Since in Britain it has always been legal to call yourself whatever you like (as long as you're not committing fraud), it's hard to get a clear and definitive picture. But as a rough guide we can estimate that when the confetti has fallen, two-thirds to three-quarters of married British women still sign documents using their husband's surname or introduce themselves using it - they apply for new passports and credit cards, or they change their handles on social media.

Feelings can run high over the issue of surname change, as demonstrated by recent criticism of Amal Alamuddin's decision to change her name when she married George Clooney. Some feminists point out that women suffer serious detriment to their careers when they change their names - that they signal their submission to their husbands, and reinforce to their own children the idea that women are inferior to men.

rest here
BBC News - Why should women change their names on getting married?

 

[Established_1965]

In other words, Male domination over Female!!

 

[PlanetWarrior]

Much ado about nothing. My wife kept her surname after marriage

 

[BDforever]

View attachment 141246

It is regarded as tradition for wives to take a man's name after marriage. Why, asks Dr Sophie Coulombeau.

My name is Sophie Coulombeau. But a year from now, after the fuss from my wedding has died down, it could be something rather different. For me, to adopt the surname of my partner and relinquish my own would profoundly affect how I think about my own identity.

On the one hand, it would bind us into a family unit and make it easier to know what to write on the birth certificates if we ever have children. But on the other, it would make me first and foremost a wife, while my husband would remain, quite simply, himself. Introducing myself as "Sophie Hardiman" would mean that saying "I do" had fundamentally changed the answer to the question "Who am I?"

If I chose to take my new husband's name, I'd be far from alone. A Eurobarometer survey, conducted in 1994, suggested that 94% of British women took their husbands' names when they got married. Recent smaller-scale research, however, suggests that this proportion has shrunk over the last two decades, especially among highly-educated and younger women. In 2013, academic Dr Rachel Thwaites found that 75% of respondents took their husband's names. Just last month, the Discourses of Marriage Research Group, a multi-institutional network interested in marriage equality, found that 54% of female respondents did the same.

Since in Britain it has always been legal to call yourself whatever you like (as long as you're not committing fraud), it's hard to get a clear and definitive picture. But as a rough guide we can estimate that when the confetti has fallen, two-thirds to three-quarters of married British women still sign documents using their husband's surname or introduce themselves using it - they apply for new passports and credit cards, or they change their handles on social media.
View attachment 141247

Feelings can run high over the issue of surname change, as demonstrated by recent criticism of Amal Alamuddin's decision to change her name when she married George Clooney. Some feminists point out that women suffer serious detriment to their careers when they change their names - that they signal their submission to their husbands, and reinforce to their own children the idea that women are inferior to men.

rest here
BBC News - Why should women change their names on getting married?

next question: why should women have to go to men's house, why men do not go to women's house ?

 

[Koovie]

If you want it, keep it. And if your future husband does not "allow" it... I would think about marrying him anyways.

End of the story.

 

[FaujHistorian]

Setting up family names the same as Hushbands' allows them to define a unit.

Nothing more nothing less.

It is not attack on woman's right.

It is acceptance of one small unit.


Like people wear their team colors

Families wear husband/dad's surname.

This is the ultimate gift everyone gives to the newly formed family.

 

[T90TankGuy]

My wife has not changed her name , nor do i feel she needs too.

 

[Iggy]

My Wife also kept her surname.. She just changed her surname in facebook may be to console me..

 

[cloud_9]

All those who voted "No" should collect their "This is what a feminist looks like" t-shirts,£45 only.

notsohinduguy already got one! Hurry up fellows.

 

[Steve781]

Feminism started off as a movement looking for an end to male chauvinism but it's now adopted a completely unrealistic demand for the elimanation of all differences between the sexes in society

 

[skullMAN]

bhai kiski BIBI he ye pata chalne ke liye

 

[livingdead]

Feminism started off as a movement looking for an end to male chauvinism but it's now adopted a completely unrealistic demand for the elimanation of all differences between the sexes in society

why do you think its unrealistic to expect not to change your name?
my name is my identity.. I understand some change because they like the idea.. and thats fine.. but more than 90 percent uk women changing name in this day and age?
I cant imagine changing my name for a woman if there was such a custom..
also its so impractical because you dont know how long your marriage will last. (in UK).

 

[Steve781]

why do you think its unrealistic to expect not to change your name?
my name is my identity.. I understand some change because they like the idea.. and thats fine.. but more than 90 percent uk women changing name in this day and age?
I cant imagine changing my name for a woman if there was such a custom..
also its so impractical because you dont know how long your marriage will last. (in UK).

The origin behind the idea was that it was a custom for the wife to became part of her husband's family upon marriage. Her taking his name was also a symbol of her bearing his child. Of course nobody nowadays says that the primary purpose of marriage is procreation. But a millenia old custom isn't going to go away just because of a few decades of feminist criticism.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

next question: why should women have to go to men's house, why men do not go to women's house ?

Usually here they both shop for a new house together. Plus the name change is not a requirement.

 

[MilSpec]

Name change: I discussed this with my wife before getting married, It was voluntary option for her, and she agreed to add my family name to hers. But nothing comes for free in this world, the deal at the outset was she would get name all future children and pets, almost 2 years now into the marriage, I am realizing that fineprint was after taking my family name, she is going to make not just decisions of pets/ children names, but all decisions for me for the rest of my life....