Thursday
Aug132009
You're under arrest for keeping your name
Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 06:41AM
I've made it well known here that I plan to keep my last name when I get married, and I admit, I wish more women would do the same. But I respect the decisions any individual makes about his or her last name. Bottom line for me is I think couples should discuss their options and make a decision together, one that makes sense for them and their potential future family.
So when I read that according to one study 70% of Americans think a woman should take her husband's last name upon marriage, and 50% think it should be a legal requirement, I was painfully disturbed. Jigga wha? Really? You want to make a law that requires me to change my last name when I get married?
I have to laugh at how absurd that is. HA!
The study only involved 815 people, and I don't know what their demographics were, but that it ever even crossed anyone's mind that this should be a legal issue shocks me. Ok I guess it doesn't shock me, but it does sort of piss me off.
Let's just hope this never becomes legislation. Because I'm rather fond of my surname, and the Giraffe's is, well... sorry babe, it's boring it doesn't suit me.
So when I read that according to one study 70% of Americans think a woman should take her husband's last name upon marriage, and 50% think it should be a legal requirement, I was painfully disturbed. Jigga wha? Really? You want to make a law that requires me to change my last name when I get married?
I have to laugh at how absurd that is. HA!
The study only involved 815 people, and I don't know what their demographics were, but that it ever even crossed anyone's mind that this should be a legal issue shocks me. Ok I guess it doesn't shock me, but it does sort of piss me off.
Let's just hope this never becomes legislation. Because I'm rather fond of my surname, and the Giraffe's is, well... sorry babe, it's boring it doesn't suit me.
Reader Comments (11)
Really, legislation? I'm widely known for saying I can't believe how conservative Philadelphia is on this issue...to women who took their husband's names. And on facebook, I pissed my cousin off for making one of my 25 random things about me, "I don't understand this trend of women changing their names when they get married."
So lame. If this becomes law, I will eagerly engage in an act of civil disobedience with you.
I'm wondering how the questions were asked. That can definitely sway people one way or the other. Put in terms like 'insurance,' 'children,' 'confusion,' and other distractions that are really after-the-fact issues for couples, and people will bypass their own rights/needs/wants to fit in.
Legally required! Okay, you are going to shoot me for saying this, but I do have some (IKES) conservative feelings, and I feel the government should not be so involved in our lives. Like this, the government should not be involved with whether we change/keep our last name.
Right now, I'm running through the issue of changing Little Miss's last name. Kevin and I never said we were going to change her last name, she must have been told by someone else. But she'll tell me all the time, when you change my last name, I'll be officially part of our family. I mean, I would/will give her our last name, but I don't want to just scrap her current last name either. But do I make it part of her middle name, do I make it part of her last name, what should I do? I think in a case of adoption, in most cases, you should strongly consider giving the child your last name, because it tells them you are part of my family. But what do you do with the last name they were born with. In her five year old mind, we're dropping the Smith for the Jones. But what if when she's ten she feels like we are rejecting her heritage, her dad, the name she was given. Regardless of what we decide to do, I'll let her know, she's still a Smith, even though she's a Jones too.
Back to the legally involved, that's why I am against making abortion illegal, even though I'm against abortion. Okay, you officially hate me, now that you know I'm half liberal and half conservative.
I am for making seat belts mandatory for children, since they can't logically make that choice for themselves, of course with that logic, maybe I should be saying abortion should be illegal because the unborn child can't choose. Unfortunately there is a lot more to it than that, I think. But anyway, I'm not too crazy about making seat belts mandatory for adults, even though I strongly believe everyone should wear one. I'm weird that way.
Really? Have law-makers nothing better to do than pass legislation about what NAME I take? I find it hard to believe that this is their most pressing issue at hand.
I did take my husband's last name, but only because it sounds REALLY cool with mine. But when I give myself pep talks in my head, I still totally refer to myself as Dietrich. Old habits die hard, I guess.
I kept my last name. The Mister wasn't too happy about it, but it was important to me for many reasons.
I'd like to know this survey's methodology as well. It doesn't seem too good.
I question the method too. But even if the percentage isn't this high, obviously the issue exists, which is frightening. And sad.
I agree. But still, this is crazy right?
Ugh - the results of that survey make me sad.
I'd be interested to see what a Canadian survey would say. In Quebec, women legally have to keep their birth name (I'm from BC but I chose to keep my name.) (But I will exercise my right to change my mind if I ever have kids.)
[...] her name at marriage, and who references a study that suggests 70% of Americans think women should (I mentioned this study earlier). She points out some of the study’s flaws, but I think the point is clear: when challenged, [...]