You know it's going to be a good day when you are already outraged before 8 a.m.
One of my favorite morning activities is listening to the radio talk program on the local Top 40 station. They always have such interesting topics, and the people that call in have great viewpoints on whatever the issue of the day is. This morning's show was of particular interest — the hosts had found an article on MSN stating that 50 percent of all people believe that a woman should be legally required to take her husband's surname upon marriage. Hyphenating would not be considered acceptable. (I searched, but couldn't actually find the article they were discussing, though this article has a similar theme.)
A lot of the guys that called in proclaimed that their wives should take their names out of respect for their husband, desire to have a name that unifies the family and to show that the man is the head of the household. The women declared that the men were not showing them respect by forcing them to change their names in the first place, and that there are plenty of circumstances in which it would be undesirable to change their names. One went as far as to say that if this law were put into effect, she would never marry.
Seriously people? This is where we're at now? Are we all of a sudden not capable of making that decision for ourselves, and we need lawmakers to step in? Why on earth would it be okay to mandate this for women, but have no similar law requiring anything of men? Why wouldn't men be required to take the woman's last name, if it's all about family unity?
I took my husband's name, but that was my choice to do so. If someone had demanded or required me to do so, I probably would have fought it tooth and nail. The whole thing just reeks of disrespect and sexism to me, like it's flying in the face of all the women who have fought for decades for equal rights.
But I'm interested in what ya'll have to say, as most of you are married or engaged. Would you support a law requiring you to change your name? If this were a real law, do you think there should be a similar mandate for men? What should it be?
But I'm interested in what ya'll have to say, as most of you are married or engaged. Would you support a law requiring you to change your name? If this were a real law, do you think there should be a similar mandate for men? What should it be?