PAKISTAN, Dec. 1 -- Stay put, go double-barrelled or pick a Brangelina-style mesh? The options for a non-traditional surname strategy are endless.
There's a lot in a name. As a form of identification names provide a fine service, more personable than a numbering system 1 to 7 billion and one that prevents social interaction from degenerating into "you, the one with the hair" and a range of vague descriptions. They aren't without their problems, though: none more of a quagmire than what happens to a woman's name if she gets married.
Though sense would respond with "Nothing, why should it?", when it comes to marriage and female autonomy, sense has no place. The reasons that were used to justify a woman losing her name up until the mid-20th century are in the modern context, irrelevant. Few couples wake up in a cold sweat over proving an heir and who will inherit the land and the town house. Despite what fathers still giving away their daughters suggests, if you rank people's reasons for saying "I do", passing a woman between estates most likely won't even make the top three.
In our minds at least, marriage has moved on. The same however can't be said for what we do with our names.
Despite an estimated 50 per cent of UK brides bucking the trend, be it in law or culture, the assumption that a woman will take her husband's name persists. You'll do well to find a newlywed who isn't greeted with "Mrs" despite having no intention to be anything but a "Ms"; the decision to keep her name still perceived as different enough to be of note.
Faced with the patriarchal status quo and the warm glow of history, it seems we can't help but get a little teary. Slotted somewhere next to the thinking that a wedding is a woman's chance to (finally) be a princess, it's apparently a sign of love to sacrifice the name that's been yours since birth. As pop tells young girls a man's name is the ultimate gift, some would be concerned for the state of modern romance. I'd suggest starting with squashed flowers from the local garage and working up from there.
Ultimately, of course, the pull is tradition. The antiquated past in this case being a positive to embrace. Tradition, however, can be abandoned. If indoor toilets and women no longer being tethered to the sink have taught us anything, there might be even be benefits to it.
Far more fun than thank you cards, there can be no greater post-wedding game than sitting down, rejecting convention, and figuring out what you're going to be called. The obvious option is to keep your name as it was before. It has the advantage of respecting both genders as equal, and most importantly allows girls you haven't spoken to since school to still be recognisable on social networking sites.
For many there's an appeal in the change, though, of the sense of family unit that comes in not only sharing a home but a name. It's a strategy of particular use if children come along, allowing you to avoid the fight between names that usually results in the one enduring childbirth having theirs consigned to the dustbin of life. Double-barrelling is a classic for this purpose - though in ducking feminism and entering straight into class warfare, it isn't without problems of its own.
Some men have started to take their wife's name and the world as yet hasn't ended. That they have to do it via deed poll rather than the simple tick of a box offered to women just ensures the law can confirm they're indeed weird.
Luckily the newest marital name trend has ensured the long search for a solution is over. Couples are now "meshing": blending the key syllables of both of their surnames to form a brand new sparkling one. For the romantics, it's the ultimate union - and allows the fortunate to discard the shackles of mediocrity and swap Granger and Den for "Danger".
Guardian.co.uk
Published by HT Syndication with permission from Daily News Sri Lanka.
For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com
A great post-wedding game
PAKISTAN, Dec. 1 -- Stay put, go double-barrelled or pick a Brangelina-style mesh? The options for a non-traditional surname strategy are endless.
There's a lot in a name. As a form of identification names provide a fine service, more personable than a numbering system 1 to 7 billion and one that prevents social interaction from degenerating into "you, the one with the hair" and a range of vague descriptions. They aren't without their problems, though: none more of a quagmire than what happens to a woman's name if she gets married.
Though sense would respond with "Nothing, why should it?", when it comes to marriage and female autonomy, sense has no place. The reasons that were used to justify a woman losing her name up until the mid-20th century are in the modern context, irrelevant. Few couples wake up in a cold sweat over proving an heir and who will inherit the land and the town house. Despite what fathers still giving away their daughters suggests, if you rank people's reasons for saying "I do", passing a woman between estates most likely won't even make the top three.
In our minds at least, marriage has moved on. The same however can't be said for what we do with our names.
Despite an estimated 50 per cent of UK brides bucking the trend, be it in law or culture, the assumption that a woman will take her husband's name persists. You'll do well to find a newlywed who isn't greeted with "Mrs" despite having no intention to be anything but a "Ms"; the decision to keep her name still perceived as different enough to be of note.
Faced with the patriarchal status quo and the warm glow of history, it seems we can't help but get a little teary. Slotted somewhere next to the thinking that a wedding is a woman's chance to (finally) be a princess, it's apparently a sign of love to sacrifice the name that's been yours since birth. As pop tells young girls a man's name is the ultimate gift, some would be concerned for the state of modern romance. I'd suggest starting with squashed flowers from the local garage and working up from there.
Ultimately, of course, the pull is tradition. The antiquated past in this case being a positive to embrace. Tradition, however, can be abandoned. If indoor toilets and women no longer being tethered to the sink have taught us anything, there might be even be benefits to it.
Far more fun than thank you cards, there can be no greater post-wedding game than sitting down, rejecting convention, and figuring out what you're going to be called. The obvious option is to keep your name as it was before. It has the advantage of respecting both genders as equal, and most importantly allows girls you haven't spoken to since school to still be recognisable on social networking sites.
For many there's an appeal in the change, though, of the sense of family unit that comes in not only sharing a home but a name. It's a strategy of particular use if children come along, allowing you to avoid the fight between names that usually results in the one enduring childbirth having theirs consigned to the dustbin of life. Double-barrelling is a classic for this purpose - though in ducking feminism and entering straight into class warfare, it isn't without problems of its own.
Some men have started to take their wife's name and the world as yet hasn't ended. That they have to do it via deed poll rather than the simple tick of a box offered to women just ensures the law can confirm they're indeed weird.
Luckily the newest marital name trend has ensured the long search for a solution is over. Couples are now "meshing": blending the key syllables of both of their surnames to form a brand new sparkling one. For the romantics, it's the ultimate union - and allows the fortunate to discard the shackles of mediocrity and swap Granger and Den for "Danger".
Guardian.co.uk
Published by HT Syndication with permission from Daily News Sri Lanka.
For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com
A great post-wedding game
PAKISTAN, Dec. 1 -- Stay put, go double-barrelled or pick a Brangelina-style mesh? The options for a non-traditional surname strategy are endless.
There's a lot in a name. As a form of identification names provide a fine service, more personable than a numbering system 1 to 7 billion and one that prevents social interaction from degenerating into "you, the one with the hair" and a range of vague descriptions. They aren't without their problems, though: none more of a quagmire than what happens to a woman's name if she gets married.
Though sense would respond with "Nothing, why should it?", when it comes to marriage and female autonomy, sense has no place. The reasons that were used to justify a woman losing her name up until the mid-20th century are in the modern context, irrelevant. Few couples wake up in a cold sweat over proving an heir and who will inherit the land and the town house. Despite what fathers still giving away their daughters suggests, if you rank people's reasons for saying "I do", passing a woman between estates most likely won't even make the top three.
In our minds at least, marriage has moved on. The same however can't be said for what we do with our names.
Despite an estimated 50 per cent of UK brides bucking the trend, be it in law or culture, the assumption that a woman will take her husband's name persists. You'll do well to find a newlywed who isn't greeted with "Mrs" despite having no intention to be anything but a "Ms"; the decision to keep her name still perceived as different enough to be of note.
Faced with the patriarchal status quo and the warm glow of history, it seems we can't help but get a little teary. Slotted somewhere next to the thinking that a wedding is a woman's chance to (finally) be a princess, it's apparently a sign of love to sacrifice the name that's been yours since birth. As pop tells young girls a man's name is the ultimate gift, some would be concerned for the state of modern romance. I'd suggest starting with squashed flowers from the local garage and working up from there.
Ultimately, of course, the pull is tradition. The antiquated past in this case being a positive to embrace. Tradition, however, can be abandoned. If indoor toilets and women no longer being tethered to the sink have taught us anything, there might be even be benefits to it.
Far more fun than thank you cards, there can be no greater post-wedding game than sitting down, rejecting convention, and figuring out what you're going to be called. The obvious option is to keep your name as it was before. It has the advantage of respecting both genders as equal, and most importantly allows girls you haven't spoken to since school to still be recognisable on social networking sites.
For many there's an appeal in the change, though, of the sense of family unit that comes in not only sharing a home but a name. It's a strategy of particular use if children come along, allowing you to avoid the fight between names that usually results in the one enduring childbirth having theirs consigned to the dustbin of life. Double-barrelling is a classic for this purpose - though in ducking feminism and entering straight into class warfare, it isn't without problems of its own.
Some men have started to take their wife's name and the world as yet hasn't ended. That they have to do it via deed poll rather than the simple tick of a box offered to women just ensures the law can confirm they're indeed weird.
Luckily the newest marital name trend has ensured the long search for a solution is over. Couples are now "meshing": blending the key syllables of both of their surnames to form a brand new sparkling one. For the romantics, it's the ultimate union - and allows the fortunate to discard the shackles of mediocrity and swap Granger and Den for "Danger".
Guardian.co.uk
Published by HT Syndication with permission from Daily News Sri Lanka.
For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com
A great post-wedding game
PAKISTAN, Dec. 1 -- Stay put, go double-barrelled or pick a Brangelina-style mesh? The options for a non-traditional surname strategy are endless.
There's a lot in a name. As a form of identification names provide a fine service, more personable than a numbering system 1 to 7 billion and one that prevents social interaction from degenerating into "you, the one with the hair" and a range of vague descriptions. They aren't without their problems, though: none more of a quagmire than what happens to a woman's name if she gets married.
Though sense would respond with "Nothing, why should it?", when it comes to marriage and female autonomy, sense has no place. The reasons that were used to justify a woman losing her name up until the mid-20th century are in the modern context, irrelevant. Few couples wake up in a cold sweat over proving an heir and who will inherit the land and the town house. Despite what fathers still giving away their daughters suggests, if you rank people's reasons for saying "I do", passing a woman between estates most likely won't even make the top three.
In our minds at least, marriage has moved on. The same however can't be said for what we do with our names.
Despite an estimated 50 per cent of UK brides bucking the trend, be it in law or culture, the assumption that a woman will take her husband's name persists. You'll do well to find a newlywed who isn't greeted with "Mrs" despite having no intention to be anything but a "Ms"; the decision to keep her name still perceived as different enough to be of note.
Faced with the patriarchal status quo and the warm glow of history, it seems we can't help but get a little teary. Slotted somewhere next to the thinking that a wedding is a woman's chance to (finally) be a princess, it's apparently a sign of love to sacrifice the name that's been yours since birth. As pop tells young girls a man's name is the ultimate gift, some would be concerned for the state of modern romance. I'd suggest starting with squashed flowers from the local garage and working up from there.
Ultimately, of course, the pull is tradition. The antiquated past in this case being a positive to embrace. Tradition, however, can be abandoned. If indoor toilets and women no longer being tethered to the sink have taught us anything, there might be even be benefits to it.
Far more fun than thank you cards, there can be no greater post-wedding game than sitting down, rejecting convention, and figuring out what you're going to be called. The obvious option is to keep your name as it was before. It has the advantage of respecting both genders as equal, and most importantly allows girls you haven't spoken to since school to still be recognisable on social networking sites.
For many there's an appeal in the change, though, of the sense of family unit that comes in not only sharing a home but a name. It's a strategy of particular use if children come along, allowing you to avoid the fight between names that usually results in the one enduring childbirth having theirs consigned to the dustbin of life. Double-barrelling is a classic for this purpose - though in ducking feminism and entering straight into class warfare, it isn't without problems of its own.
Some men have started to take their wife's name and the world as yet hasn't ended. That they have to do it via deed poll rather than the simple tick of a box offered to women just ensures the law can confirm they're indeed weird.
Luckily the newest marital name trend has ensured the long search for a solution is over. Couples are now "meshing": blending the key syllables of both of their surnames to form a brand new sparkling one. For the romantics, it's the ultimate union - and allows the fortunate to discard the shackles of mediocrity and swap Granger and Den for "Danger".
Guardian.co.uk
Published by HT Syndication with permission from Daily News Sri Lanka.
For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com
A great post-wedding game
PAKISTAN, Dec. 1 -- Stay put, go double-barrelled or pick a Brangelina-style mesh? The options for a non-traditional surname strategy are endless.
There's a lot in a name. As a form of identification names provide a fine service, more personable than a numbering system 1 to 7 billion and one that prevents social interaction from degenerating into "you, the one with the hair" and a range of vague descriptions. They aren't without their problems, though: none more of a quagmire than what happens to a woman's name if she gets married.
Though sense would respond with "Nothing, why should it?", when it comes to marriage and female autonomy, sense has no place. The reasons that were used to justify a woman losing her name up until the mid-20th century are in the modern context, irrelevant. Few couples wake up in a cold sweat over proving an heir and who will inherit the land and the town house. Despite what fathers still giving away their daughters suggests, if you rank people's reasons for saying "I do", passing a woman between estates most likely won't even make the top three.
In our minds at least, marriage has moved on. The same however can't be said for what we do with our names.
Despite an estimated 50 per cent of UK brides bucking the trend, be it in law or culture, the assumption that a woman will take her husband's name persists. You'll do well to find a newlywed who isn't greeted with "Mrs" despite having no intention to be anything but a "Ms"; the decision to keep her name still perceived as different enough to be of note.
Faced with the patriarchal status quo and the warm glow of history, it seems we can't help but get a little teary. Slotted somewhere next to the thinking that a wedding is a woman's chance to (finally) be a princess, it's apparently a sign of love to sacrifice the name that's been yours since birth. As pop tells young girls a man's name is the ultimate gift, some would be concerned for the state of modern romance. I'd suggest starting with squashed flowers from the local garage and working up from there.
Ultimately, of course, the pull is tradition. The antiquated past in this case being a positive to embrace. Tradition, however, can be abandoned. If indoor toilets and women no longer being tethered to the sink have taught us anything, there might be even be benefits to it.
Far more fun than thank you cards, there can be no greater post-wedding game than sitting down, rejecting convention, and figuring out what you're going to be called. The obvious option is to keep your name as it was before. It has the advantage of respecting both genders as equal, and most importantly allows girls you haven't spoken to since school to still be recognisable on social networking sites.
For many there's an appeal in the change, though, of the sense of family unit that comes in not only sharing a home but a name. It's a strategy of particular use if children come along, allowing you to avoid the fight between names that usually results in the one enduring childbirth having theirs consigned to the dustbin of life. Double-barrelling is a classic for this purpose - though in ducking feminism and entering straight into class warfare, it isn't without problems of its own.
Some men have started to take their wife's name and the world as yet hasn't ended. That they have to do it via deed poll rather than the simple tick of a box offered to women just ensures the law can confirm they're indeed weird.
Luckily the newest marital name trend has ensured the long search for a solution is over. Couples are now "meshing": blending the key syllables of both of their surnames to form a brand new sparkling one. For the romantics, it's the ultimate union - and allows the fortunate to discard the shackles of mediocrity and swap Granger and Den for "Danger".
Guardian.co.uk
Published by HT Syndication with permission from Daily News Sri Lanka.
For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com
A great post-wedding game
PAKISTAN, Dec. 1 -- Stay put, go double-barrelled or pick a Brangelina-style mesh? The options for a non-traditional surname strategy are endless.
There's a lot in a name. As a form of identification names provide a fine service, more personable than a numbering system 1 to 7 billion and one that prevents social interaction from degenerating into "you, the one with the hair" and a range of vague descriptions. They aren't without their problems, though: none more of a quagmire than what happens to a woman's name if she gets married.
Though sense would respond with "Nothing, why should it?", when it comes to marriage and female autonomy, sense has no place. The reasons that were used to justify a woman losing her name up until the mid-20th century are in the modern context, irrelevant. Few couples wake up in a cold sweat over proving an heir and who will inherit the land and the town house. Despite what fathers still giving away their daughters suggests, if you rank people's reasons for saying "I do", passing a woman between estates most likely won't even make the top three.
In our minds at least, marriage has moved on. The same however can't be said for what we do with our names.
Despite an estimated 50 per cent of UK brides bucking the trend, be it in law or culture, the assumption that a woman will take her husband's name persists. You'll do well to find a newlywed who isn't greeted with "Mrs" despite having no intention to be anything but a "Ms"; the decision to keep her name still perceived as different enough to be of note.
Faced with the patriarchal status quo and the warm glow of history, it seems we can't help but get a little teary. Slotted somewhere next to the thinking that a wedding is a woman's chance to (finally) be a princess, it's apparently a sign of love to sacrifice the name that's been yours since birth. As pop tells young girls a man's name is the ultimate gift, some would be concerned for the state of modern romance. I'd suggest starting with squashed flowers from the local garage and working up from there.
Ultimately, of course, the pull is tradition. The antiquated past in this case being a positive to embrace. Tradition, however, can be abandoned. If indoor toilets and women no longer being tethered to the sink have taught us anything, there might be even be benefits to it.
Far more fun than thank you cards, there can be no greater post-wedding game than sitting down, rejecting convention, and figuring out what you're going to be called. The obvious option is to keep your name as it was before. It has the advantage of respecting both genders as equal, and most importantly allows girls you haven't spoken to since school to still be recognisable on social networking sites.
For many there's an appeal in the change, though, of the sense of family unit that comes in not only sharing a home but a name. It's a strategy of particular use if children come along, allowing you to avoid the fight between names that usually results in the one enduring childbirth having theirs consigned to the dustbin of life. Double-barrelling is a classic for this purpose - though in ducking feminism and entering straight into class warfare, it isn't without problems of its own.
Some men have started to take their wife's name and the world as yet hasn't ended. That they have to do it via deed poll rather than the simple tick of a box offered to women just ensures the law can confirm they're indeed weird.
Luckily the newest marital name trend has ensured the long search for a solution is over. Couples are now "meshing": blending the key syllables of both of their surnames to form a brand new sparkling one. For the romantics, it's the ultimate union - and allows the fortunate to discard the shackles of mediocrity and swap Granger and Den for "Danger".
Guardian.co.uk
Published by HT Syndication with permission from Daily News Sri Lanka.
For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com
