Traditionally, a woman takes her husband's surname when she marries. Of course, feminists find that oppressive. But retaining their hereditary surname is just as "patriarchal":
http://keithburgess-jackson.typepad.com/blog/2013/09/from-todays-new-york-times-3.html
True. But that begs the question that their feminist cause is relevant as a general principle. I suggest that feminists largely have individualistic motives.
ReplyDeleteIn other words, it doesn't matter that their surname was their father's surname - their mother doesn't matter. All that matters is that they get to keep their own surname, wherever it came from, so they have no sense of familial obligation to their husband.
Their children don't matter either, because we have no consistent message from them of how we should name children fairly.
Why not just draw names out of a hat? Or let a computer randomly generate names? Or create a new cultural phenomenon--Naming Day, on which occasion children can create their own nominal identities?
ReplyDeleteAlternatively, we could just let a magical talking hat sort them all out. Works in some circumstances and makes just as much sense...