Will The Government Make You Take His Last Name?
Married name or maiden name: your choice, not the government's says one naming expert.
Seventy percent of Americans think it's beneficial for women to take her husband's last name when they marry, while half say the government should require women to change their names when they marry, according to a new study by researchers from Indiana University and the University of Utah. But it's dangerous to buy these headlines hook, line, and sinker. Before you schedule your move to Canada, let's get one thing straight: Academic research on the topic of married names is limited, but it points to increasing use of and positive perceptions of nontraditional last names, NOT to scary scenarios like government mandated married names.