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Why should I be the one to change my name?

Aine Carson | 24.06.2008 15:38 | Gender | Other Press | Social Struggles

Why is it that when a woman enters into a heterosexual committment with a man via marriage, the man assumes her to change her name to his?

My partner and I have been discussing this topic for a number of months. I am opposed to changing my surname and requested him to change his to mine. His horrified expression said it all. My surname is not at all strange and my only theory on him being so offended is his masculine insecurity. I decided to petition Gordon Brown to raise the issue in parliament. should you wish to sign the petition, please click on this link.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Mr-Mrs/

Aine Carson
e-mail: ainebaby@yahoo.co.uk

Comments

Hide the following 10 comments

Precedent

24.06.2008 15:55

When the novelist Olive Schreiner married Samuel Cronwright in 1894, he took her name. Doesn't help your case much, but it is an interesting little fact. I for one wouldn't want my girlfriend to take my name if we married, as hers is lovely and mine is crap.

Bloke

not worth a petition

24.06.2008 16:00

There is no law that says you have to change your name, I didn't change mine when I got married I don't think my husband gave a toss one way or the other.

There are more important things in the world

married woman

Wooo.... lets make the nanny state even worse

24.06.2008 16:03

Great idea, lets take something that two adults should be able to sort out between themselves that isn't legally regulated and get Big Brother involved.

super smashing nice!

Why not just keep you own names and give your kids ( if you should have kids, entirely up to you) the choice or a fancy sounding double barreled name.

JustaMinute

I'm an activist in the "stop humans" network. I do essential sexwork duties.

24.06.2008 17:03

I have found that changing my name has been as useful a ruse as applying different make-up to avoid detection at routine bridge nights or dinner parties. Though I ruefully admit I recently almost gave the game away when I referred to my partner as "pimp".

I understand the serious issues being raised by the writer of the article above and would suggest she paper her community, and bulk up her bridge nights and dinner parties with same sex couples who have never felt the onus of social acceptance which obliges many of us more polite types to change names.

Ms double-barrelled stage name

here's an idea..

24.06.2008 17:04

don't bother getting married! If you reject a patriarchal ritual, then why bother getting married!? If you give your kids a double-barrelled shotgun of a name, he/she will drop one of the names by the time they hit year 9 - guaranteed!

teacha

oh piss off

24.06.2008 17:23

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Request men to change their surname to that of the female's upon marriage."

whether you change your name, keep your name, your partner changes their name, or whatever, is purely an issue between you and your partner. do you really need the government stepping in to force the issue?

also, the full petition reads:

"In today's modern society, women are gradually becoming less oppressed in their everyday lives. This petition is to highlight the fact that it is deemed appropriate for a woman to change her surname to that of her husbands on their wedding day. If sexual equality is to occur, it should also be the norm for the man to legally change his surname to his wife's."

1: absolute bullshit. if you honestly think how people change their names is the biggest issue preventing sexual equality I can only assume you live a very sheltered life.
2. do you really want the state trying to dictate social norms?

anonymous

direct action camp against name change

24.06.2008 17:31

i suggest a preliminary meeting at a social centre and then an international summer camp with planned direct actions against an appropriate name change criminal targets, all places licensed to conduct marriage ceremonies.

I Spy With My Little Eye....

24.06.2008 17:59

...Something beggining with 'L'

LIBERAL!!!!

fuck off back to the WI, vote on the way there.

steptoe

FFS

24.06.2008 18:13

There's not much troubling you, is there?

Poison Idea

There you go

24.06.2008 19:14

I signed your little petition sweet pea. Ignore all these nay sayers on here sweetums you can make a difference.

Fanny Soap-Johnson