In most parts of the world, including India, a newborn child is automatically given the surname of the father. This is even when many married women continue to use their maiden name. However, in a progressive step, the Italian constitutional court has ruled that this practice is “discriminatory” and “harmful” to the identity of the child.
According to The Guardian, the court has ruled that Italian children should be given the surnames of both parents, overturning the generations-old tradition.
The parents are to mutually decide the ‘order’ of the two surnames (the mother’s surname first or the father’s). And if the child is to be given only one surname, it is also to be mutually decided by both parents.
Several people online lauded the Italian court’s ruling and suggested that other nations should adopt the same policy.
Braviiiii! 👏🇮🇹
Most Italian women don't take their husband's last name. This makes total sense on a number of levels.https://t.co/e3IIC4AQ3c— Dr. Francesca Tronchin (@tronchin) April 27, 2022
Time to draw the “family name” line a little longer! ❤️ https://t.co/HrAIwl607H
— Gerry Milligan (@Gerrymanderino) April 28, 2022
How long until Australians give up on sole patriarchal name lineage?
Sooooooo looooooong is my prediction. Bananas. https://t.co/DyFImRbUOE
— Melanie Tait (@MelanieTait) April 27, 2022
Meanwhile to get back into the UK I have to travel with a copy of my son's birth certificate. As the government won't recognise mothers with different surnames.https://t.co/sN9tp26lfo
— Alexandra Pullin (@alexandrapullin) April 29, 2022
Finally, some sense. It's an absurd tradition that seems to persist despite the fact that we are in the 21st century, and women are supposedly equal.
Italy court rules children should be given surnames of both parents https://t.co/4RPx3bLNe7— Dr Lorna Gibb 🌻🇺🇦 (@LornaGibb) April 28, 2022
Women & children taking the man’s surname sustains patriarchy – this is a great development. https://t.co/9nnbCI6JKD
— Sue Williamson (@SWilliamsonUNSW) April 27, 2022
Ground breaking court rule in #Italy
Children should receive both parents surnames.
So far in #Greece children receive both surnames if parents wish to.#Equalityhttps://t.co/0GzDvXTniP— Christina Themelis (@tinathemelis) April 27, 2022
Yep yep yep.
Maybe next courts can ban women taking their husbands' surname.
Barbaric practice, smelling of ownership.Italian court rules that children should be given surnames of both parents https://t.co/HxmVuZesWM
— Pinky Jones (@PinkyDink4) April 28, 2022
It never ceases to amaze me while many women keep their own name, in the vast majority of cases, their children are given the husband's name.https://t.co/v34ABJf2hc
— liz tucker (@lizctucker) April 28, 2022
Do you think this should be implemented in India too?