One question that has plagued me for a while is women that don’t take their husbands last name when they get married. Why? I just don’t get it. Why bother getting married and going through *that* tradition if you’re not going to go all the way with it and take his last name? If you’re so afraid of losing your independence or whatever reason you have, why get married? And if you’re getting married so you can have kids, wouldn’t you want to have the same last name as your husband and kids? It just doesn’t make sense to me. I guess I just don’t see a good reason for it. If you want to keep your last name, why bother getting married? Tax break? Hardly, getting married screws you in taxes (unless you have kid) Wedding Presents? Unless you’re getting your wedding paid for 100% by someone other than you, or you do the courthouse gig like we did, the ROI on presents is null. I can kind of understand not doing it for professional reasons, say if you’re a doctor or teacher. But really? Can’t you just slowly do it instead of just flat out not?
I guess with the divorce rate being at 50% it’ll save you time and effort of having to change it back, ‘eh?
So ladies, what gives?
Michael Sigler
Sat Apr 05 2008 at 11:47 am
I totally agree. Though if you hadn’t taken mine, you wouldn’t have to deal with idiots on the phone who can’t pronounce it.
Joleine
Sat Apr 05 2008 at 11:48 am
Your last name is easier than my maiden name.. trust me.
Jim Goings
Mon Apr 07 2008 at 09:50 pm
Some women that I know like to keep the bond with their maiden name. I can understand that there may be a strong family connection to a particular name. Imagine if you had your family tree going back to 1560 or something… you might have a harder time letting that maiden name go.
That said, I agree that the tradition institution of marriage includes the woman taking the mans last name. I think there are many good reasons for this, primary among them is that marriage is a covenant with God (and to each other). Part of the covenant is the joining of two into ONE… hench taking the same last name.
Chick
Sat Apr 12 2008 at 10:46 am
Because if my signif other is in the hospital and major decisions need to be made, I can legally make them.
Fuck the name, I like mine - it’s part of me.
missburrows
Mon Apr 14 2008 at 11:30 am
Well, I didn’t change my last name because I had a perfectly good one already. I was used to it, I could spell it and all my important documents had it on it already.
I got married because I wanted a partner in life. Someone that would watch my back (and vice versa) so whatever my last name is really doesn’t matter.
Chris
Wed Apr 16 2008 at 08:41 pm
The point, to me, of getting married is about two people who love each other committing themselves to one another for the rest of their lives. It’s not about what name you choose to take or not.
Joleine
Wed Apr 16 2008 at 10:45 pm
Missburrows - I totally understand about the “documents” part.. changing your name is a big pita.. But to me, it was worth it
Joleine
Wed Apr 16 2008 at 10:46 pm
Chris - I agree, getting married was never about what name to take to me.. It’s just amusing to me to see how many people choose not to now a days vs say, 10 years ago. Growing up it was totally unheard of for women not to take their husbands name unless they were in a profession where it would be awkward to change it, ya know?