Starflower
In the Name of Love
Men can take their wife’s name in marriage, if they wish to do so. If – very few men actually choose to take their wife’s name. Or do you know anyone who has? Well, there you go!
It’s another one of those seemingly insignificant issues that shows up how far from gender equality we really are. Sure, it’s not that big a deal who takes which name. It’s just a name! But names are loaded with meaning – family tradition, memories, social ties play into the true meaning of names. You realise what’s really in a name when you hear from men who have taken their wife’s name. This story about a man who decided to take his wife’s name is a real eye opener!
His reasons had little to do with emancipation or equality, they were pragmatic and understandable: her surname sounds nicer, she’s an only child and wants to keep the family name alive, so it just made sense to take his wife’s name. So far so good, until the couple received wedding cards in his name, there was loads of red tape to deal with, banks and phone companies refused to acknowledge his new name (instead congratulating his wife on her presumed new name) and all his friends reacted negatively to his decision to take his wife’s name.
Pretty amazing that such a non-issue would become a huge deal like that, isn’t it?
