We live in an era where most marriage traditions are outdated, and are simply kept around because of the sole fact they’re traditions. No one wants to deviate from the norm and break a tradition that has been around for hundreds of years. But when I sit down and really think about why women take their husband’s last name after they marry, I can never think of a legitimate reason to justify it. The whole idea seems slightly outdated to me. Women originally took their husband’s last name to show that they were now fully their husband’s property. While that idea is not commonly thought of in American culture today, there’s still the background attached to it that I strongly disagree with.
I love my last name. I think it’s cool, kind of unique, and has been the backbone to many little nicknames throughout my days in high school and college. I could never see myself as anything but the name I have now. It’s who I am. Changing my name to my husband’s would feel like losing a part of me and I know and love. The idea of changing my name has never crossed my mind growing up–I always knew I wanted to keep it the same. Both of my brothers will never be expected to change their last name, so why should I?
By not taking my future husband’s name, it doesn’t mean that I won’t love him or respect him. It doesn’t mean that I don’t respect other women or men who take their partner’s last name. I understand why someone would want to do so; sometimes people do it for their religion, or to uphold a family custom, or just simply because they have never thought about not changing their name after marriage. While some traditions are meant to be upheld, I feel in this case they’re okay to be altered.