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A woman's right to a surname

Women predominantly take the name of their husband in heterosexual marriages, does this contradict contempory women's rights?

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For the record, I have absolutely no problem that my wife keeps her name or I take hers...

What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet~
Reply 2
Original post by Mathemagicien
Are they forced to change it? No. If they wanted to, I'm sure they could keep their last names.


Hence why the question posed says predominantly
Reply 3
Umm... no.

It's traditional, but it's still a choice. It happens because people want it to happen.
Reply 4
No I just think it's a tradition thing and not for sexist reasons - fathers walking their daughters down the aisle has sexist orgins (the idea of the father giving the daughter away like a possesion), but now it's just another wedding tradition. And obviously women are in no way forced to take their husband's surname - it's entirely voluntary.
Reply 5
Don't care at all about surnames.

She can take mine or keep hers. Or I would happily take hers.

It's just a tradition. It only has to change if people want it to.
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by shanayjb
Women predominantly take the name of their husband in heterosexual marriages, does this contradict contempory women's rights?


Not at all if iits their choice. they dont have to and these days its perfectly accpetable to keep your own name or go for the double barrelled name.
More people keep their maiden names these days and men can take their wives surnames in many cases (through deed poll so more complex but still doable). I've decided to take my partners as it fits much better with both of our names than my double barreled one would, although we won't be or can't follow any other wedding traditions for sure.
Reply 8
A woman has a CHOICE, how is a choice to do something infringing on rights?
It's a choice,not obligatory. Although, I want to keep my future hubby's surname
Most women choose to take it because of tradition, I guess it is kindof outdated now as the idea of taking on you husbands second name implies that you are nolonger your fathers 'possession', you now belong to your husband. Even the way a woman changes from a miss to a MRS when sh marries is outdated. MRS implies you belong to the MR (MR'S). However not everyone follows this tradition, I know in Islam you are actually supposed to keep your own surname when you marry.
It isn't a choice for women. The oppressive patriarchal values that are instilled through gender socialisation reinforce these traditional values that subordinate women and keep them inferior to me- yeah i'm just ****ing with you.
Why is it almost universal that women change their names to their spouses (heterosexual relationships) and yet men hardly ever change theirs
Original post by Roccothesilent
Why is it almost universal that women change their names to their spouses (heterosexual relationships) and yet men hardly ever change theirs


Its tradition, built up over time.

Here are some good explanations, but its common sense as to why it developed.
Its ridiculous if people are seeing it as some sort of infringement or opression.

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-history-behind-the-wife-taking-the-husbands-last-name-surname-after-marriage
no lol
honestly for practicality (of a family name)

these days lot's of women are keeping their surnames, or forming double-barrels, or even hybrids of both surnames.
I know a married heterosexual couple who both took on the woman's given surname, merely because they preferred it.

*shrug* it's just tradition, and no longer gives anyone more power or whatever, and it's a a choice so so

silly question tbh ?
Original post by 999tigger
Its tradition, built up over time.

Here are some good explanations, but its common sense as to why it developed.
Its ridiculous if people are seeing it as some sort of infringement or opression.

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-history-behind-the-wife-taking-the-husbands-last-name-surname-after-marriage


I agree it's tradition. I don't think with choice women's rights are being infringed, but will society perhaps adapt to a position where men take their wife's surname? Not something so common
Original post by Roccothesilent
I agree it's tradition. I don't think with choice women's rights are being infringed, but will society perhaps adapt to a position where men take their wife's surname? Not something so common


What does it matter? If you read the link there are senisble answers on why its tradition.

You cna call yourself whatever you like. The whole OP is pretry pointless.
Why would anyone care whose name is taken?
Reply 18
Original post by Milzime
honestly for practicality (of a family name)

these days lot's of women are keeping their surnames, or forming double-barrels, or even hybrids of both surnames.
I know a married heterosexual couple who both took on the woman's given surname, merely because they preferred it.

*shrug* it's just tradition, and no longer gives anyone more power or whatever, and it's a a choice so so

silly question tbh ?


Thank you for that enlightening reply, you are right, these days a lot of women are keeping their surnames. However the MAJORITY as stated in the original question are taking their husband's names, we are saying whether this is contradictory.

There is no right or wrong, but it's nice to read differing opinions on the matter.

If you think it is a silly question then so be it.
I mean there are sensible reasons for both people having the same surname - such as what to name the kids (if they have them). Incidentally I have noticed that my friends with hybrid/double barreled surnames tend to be those who don't plan to have children, but this could be confirmation bias/small sample.

On another note, I'd argue that to a certain extend the discrimination is towards the man in this regard. The bride can automatically change her name as part of the process of getting married, whereas the man has to go the formal route, outside of the wedding, the same as if anyone were changing their name.

I imagine the practical difficulty of the man taking the woman's name is an impact on which name they choose to keep as much as anything else.

I've no idea how name changing in a homosexual relationship works incidentally, does one of them get classified as the "bride" and get this automatic change?

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