In The Name Of The...Mother?

By Anant Mathur (March 16, 2012)

It's unbelievable how much women have accomplished in the last 100 years, today we take much of it for granted but a century ago most people believed that a woman's place was in the home, they couldn't vote, few of them attend college/universities or worked professionally. Today, women can be found in almost every profession not just teachers or nurses but as CEO's of large corporations, Prime Ministers of Nations, Astronauts, Athletes, Doctors, Lawyers, Scientists, Engineers, etc. It's truly been an inspirational journey.

Considering all that they have accomplish, by changing the thinking of men, it has always troubled me that they haven't been able to perform a simple task; that is, they haven't been able to convince men to take their maiden names as the family name after marriage. There are many women who refuse to change their name after marriage and keep their maiden name, although it's commendable that they have the power to do so, it always surprises me that women can't get the men to take their last name instead.

Keeping religion and personal belief out of it, I don't think there are any reasons why a man can't take his wife's last name. I mean men today are so different (Metro-sexual) than a hundred years ago that it shouldn't be hard to convince today's generation to take the last name of their wives. Most women I know have changed their last names after marriage. Once upon a time it was easily done. Today, it's a big hassle - getting a new passport, credit card(s), license, e-mail address, etc.

The question is are men comfortable with the idea of taking the last name of their wives? Although we may agree that men can take a woman's name, is it possible? What's so special about keeping a certain last name. We scream women power and women are this, women are that, but after marriage we expect the wife to change her name and in most cases she does, why? When she has won so many battles why is a woman so easily persuaded when it comes to changing her name?

Why is this so trivial, why can't women compel their men to take their last name? My personal preference is that they take both last names. A man takes his wife's last name before his own  and a woman does the same. For example, if he's named Mike Smith and she's Amy Jones, he becomes Mike Jones Smith and she becomes Amy Smith Jones. It's an interesting idea, I hope...

© Anant Mathur. All Rights Reserved.

DISCLAIMER: The above post is meant for entertainment purposes only; readers shouldn't take it seriously or interpret it as advice.