Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Why do women still change their names?
Position‹3 of 4›

Public perceptions pressure women into changing their surnames

On this view the pressure is ordinary rather than political: proponents argue that relatives, officials and acquaintances all assume a shared married surname, and that the friction of deviating from that expectation is what decides the matter.

Supporting arguments · 2

  1. Institutions and acquaintances assume a shared surname and impose the friction
  2. Expectation arrives as congratulation, which makes it difficult to refuse