Lucy Stone Last Name Analysis

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For any independent woman to change or not to change her last name after marriage is a complex dilemma that requires much contemplating and discussion with her peers and dear family members. Adopting a new last name provides with a new identity for a woman; in the recent years the rapid increase in the percentage of women retaining their maiden names explains the importance and relevance of this topic, opening doors to a debate, giving us an insight of the various perspectives.
When a woman refuses to adopt her husband’s last name it is perceived as an act of feminism and the society concludes with the theory that the woman is an empowered feminist. Statistically speaking, a third of married women in their 20s have kept their maiden name in …show more content…

Persons belonging to this group of ideologies find the ‘unforgivable and horrendous crime’ extremely provoking and infuriating, thus categorising the women as disrespectful and sacrilegious. While a majority believe that such an act is inexcusable and outrageous Lucy Stone an American activist born in 1818 points out that ‘a person’s name is fundamental to his/her existence’ which is supported by her famous quote ‘A wife should no more take her husband’s name than he should hers. My name is my identity and it should not be …show more content…

Although this group maybe a minority, the members of this group consider the act of refusing to change their names after marriage acceptable and think that every individual possesses the right to expressing their own understanding as well as individuality and distinctiveness, and they believe that in doing what the women feel is honest and appropriate should be accepted by the stern tradition oriented society as