A woman taking up her husband’s surname after marriage has been the norm across cultures since time immemorial. But in recent times, there have been arguments countering this norm and labelling it as patriarchal.
Why must a woman take up her husband’s surname? Why not retain her full birth name under which she has had all her accomplishments? Why can’t the husband take up his wife’s surname?
These are some of the many questions related to the topic that has been asked over the past couple of years. And today, we are able to see a change. Not only are women retaining their surnames but even men are taking up their wives’ last names.
Another similar debate began on Twitter after a user expressed how it is wild for her to imagine women doctors taking up their husband’s surname after marriage. Why women doctors specifically? Because it takes years for a person to become a doctor and have the ‘Dr’ attached to their name.
“Women doctors taking up their husband’s last names after marriage will always be wild to me. Because how did you go through more than decade of hell that is medicine and want to be addressed by somebody else’s name. Could never be me,” she tweeted.
Women doctors taking up their husband’s last names after marriage will always be wild to me. Because how did you go through more than decade of hell that is medicine and want to be addressed by somebody else’s name. Could never be me.
— shruberry (blue tick) (@psychedamygdala) March 20, 2023
Her tweet managed to spark a wide discussion on Twitter. There were some women, who were doctors or knew someone from the same profession, who shared how they didn’t take up their husbands’ names. Some even revealed that instead of scrapping the idea altogether, they added their husband’s surnames alongside theirs. A few even highlighted the importance of giving women a choice.
Have a look:
I had a fleeting thought of changing my surname to “Malhotra” for the glamour associated with it, but he being a feminist, told me to sleep on it for a few weeks before I change it officially & I eventually didn’t. Happy with my maiden name.
He knew me more than I knew myself.— Mansi Khanderia (@Geeky_Foodie) March 20, 2023
Yep. Same!
But to attract patients from both our religion spectrums, sister & I hyphenate it at the clinic. Lol.— Boss Babe (@Dentisht) March 20, 2023
Hey blue tick.
So i kept my surname and added his surname as well.
He is a very kind man who told me don’t give up on ur identity.
Hence my middle name doesn’t have his name.
I am so proud of him and me.— Akanksha Jivrag Neogi (@AkankshJivragMD) March 20, 2023
i am glad my phd mummy did not succumb to this
— ɐɥsuɐʞɐ (@acan_sha) March 20, 2023
@psychedamygdala where I come from we don’t do that (meghalaya-india)
— Kitbhah pyrtuh (@Kitbhah1) March 20, 2023
so proud of my mom not taking my dad’s last name 🙏
— saniya (@sankneeya) March 20, 2023
Never changed and R didnt want my daughter to get his name as well which is usually the case.. Now after his death my daughter V feels she should have got his name… infact wants me to change it …
— Dr.Aarathi Bellary (@Coffeehudigi) March 21, 2023
I am strictly against this surname adoption. But I also know that some people do it out of love while some others think that it’s a part of their culture and this is what I find objectionable.
— Cyber Village 🗼💻📱🌳🏞️ (@Thecybervillage) March 21, 2023
I hated my last name before because I previously had an estranged relationship w my dad but now, I can't imagine being called w another name because lmao ~why~ would you disregard years of hardwork like that :') https://t.co/7yNLq62cfT
— Kaanchhhh (Taylor's Version) (@crankykunky) March 21, 2023
I would never! At this point, it has become my identity (even for myself). Just the thought of changing my last name makes me feel like I'm losing all of myself.. https://t.co/Fm0DMu2nX2
— ℜ𝔲𝔡𝔞𝔞𝔩𝔦 🥀 (@Jwallamukhii) March 21, 2023
What are your views on this topic?