This is gonna get ugly.

Well how many people agree with the societal norm of a woman taking a man's last name. I mean I can trace my family history better than any woman ever could. I think women SHOULD take their husband's name though if they don't it really complicates things like taxes, trips etc.
So what do you guys think?

A woman doesn't HAVE to if she doesn't feel like it... currently.

Originally posted by David Duchovony
Well how many people agree with the societal norm of a woman taking a man's last name. I mean I can trace my family history better than any woman ever could. I think women SHOULD take their husband's name though if they don't it really complicates things like taxes, trips etc.
So what do you guys think?

Personally, I feel it should not matter. It is merely traditional to take the mans surname

Since I have a brother who can carry on my families last name, if I was to marry a woman who was an only child/had only sisters and therefore traditionally could not carry out the family name, I am willing to change mine.

It doesn't matter.

Really... who gives a shit. If I ever get married, I won't care whether or not my wife takes my name. It means nothing. It's just a name. I think it's a little presumptuous of you to say that you can trace your family history better than any woman ever could. Just because a family's last name has changed over generations isn't to say it can't be traced. I know what my grandma's maiden name was, and her mother, and I'm sure I could find out with a little research what her mother's maiden name was. Yeah, you have to look a little harder, but it can still be done.

Yea but your grandma's maiden name was originally her father's last name. It started with a man.

Yes, but I don't see the relevance of this as it relates to a woman changing her name. Obviously that's the traditional way to do it in this country. But every country has its own naming tradition... Like in Iceland, kids get their father's first name, with "dottir" or "sen" (I think it's "sen"😉 tacked on the end. I don't see your point. If they feel really strongly about keeping their last name for some reason, there's nothing wrong with letting her.

That's true. But that's just not how I feel.

Which is fine. I am only giving my opinion, as well.

Originally posted by David Duchovony
Well how many people agree with the societal norm of a woman taking a man's last name. I mean I can trace my family history better than any woman ever could. I think women SHOULD take their husband's name though if they don't it really complicates things like taxes, trips etc.
So what do you guys think?

a woman shouldnt have to take their husband's last name...
i mean... it is afterall... HER name...
though it makes no difference to me whether they do or do not. i just dont want to see it being forced.

It's up to the women. If/when I get married, I may or may not change my name. I don't know yet. But I don't see why women SHOULD do it. And, FYI, there are men out there who change their last names to that of their wife.

And, pray tell, how far can you trace your family back? Because I can trace mine back about 300 years to Ireland, England, and Scotland; I have immigration records from the 1840s and the 1910s when various members of my family came over here from Ireland and the UK.

Yea but even so, you're just gonna be using the maiden names of your grandmothers who had their father's name. It's harder for women to trace their last name to that of the woman they descended from since she took her husband's name and automatically lost hers.

who cares?
It's still a woman's choice. Who cares about the greatgrandmother's name... or if it was taken from the husband?
The woman should still have the right to choose whether or not to take their husband's last name.

Originally posted by David Duchovony
Yea but even so, you're just gonna be using the maiden names of your grandmothers who had their father's name. It's harder for women to trace their last name to that of the woman they descended from since she took her husband's name and automatically lost hers.

Just because they don't have their original last name doesn't mean it's lost or forgotten 🙄 They keep records of these kind of things, genius.

No you don't understand what I'm saying. Ok lets say a woman marries a man and it is the first marrigae ever somehow. She takes his name and all his descendent and hers will at some point have to take his name until they get married and change their names. The bottom line is that the first woman's last name is gone and her descendants will never know it. It's just an example.😱

The taking of the last name is essentially a ownership branding!

It's up to the woman.

I'm not going to get married until homosexuals are freely allowed to wed, but if the country eventually wakes up I will marry my girlfriend, and I will take her name.

It is up to the women.

Its her choice whether or not she wants to change her name.

She does not have to change her name if she doesnt want to.

But personally she should take the surname of the husband. She doesnt have to, but she should. I know if I ever get married I would want my wife to take my name, but I would make her or anything... or really pressure her. I don't like my own last name all that much, i wouldnt force it upon my new wife. But, if she did take my name I think that means a lot too... I dont know, maybe not... Its kind of a moot point anyway 😛

If it were a problem for her I would understand, but If she loves you and it is like the expected thing to do I would feel somewhat rejected if she didnt want the same name. Its not a big deal... but whether or not she wanted my name would matter to me. I think its kind of wierd actually that you guys are like "oh whatever i dont care"...

They dont have to, they should, and i would like for my future wife to.

Me too. I like your dancing troll Kosta.