I took my husband's name when I married because of several reasons. One, I
had no particular fondness for my maiden name because when I was much
younger my parents had a messy divorce, and my mom remarried and discarded
my father's name quickly. I had considered hyphenating it, as many people
have done, but I think for me personally it was letting go of the past and
moving on. My father has three sons to "carry on the family name" so I
didn't feel guilty at all. I think it is good that some women now have a
choice whether or not to keep their own name or not.
----------
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> To: STUDIES IN WOMEN AND ENVIRONMENT <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: Re: women oppressing women
> Date: Saturday, March 13, 1999 11:37 PM
>
> In a message dated 3/13/1999 11:33:11 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
>
> << It is still extremely rare for a man to raise kids or take the
woman's
> name, yet this has become an avoided topic. Is it an insignificant
topic?
> What do you all think? (Go ahead and yell at me if you want...my skin is
not
> TOO thin...) >>
>
> I don't think it is insignificant because it is important to you -
because it
> symbolizes for you something larger.
>
> I have never felt concerned about the idea of "giving up my name" - not
every
> woman of every culture gives up her name - and have even (don't hit me)
> thought about staying home when I have small children. However for me,
staying
> home doesn't at all mean that work will cease, or that I will not be
involved.
> I can just strap a kid to my back. But that is because of the nature of
my
> work, which allows for that flexibility.
>
> What is it about wearing a wedding ring that you don't like? What does it
> symbolize for you?
>
>
> Nicole
