Is it wrong for me to expect my soon-to-be wife to take my family name?
I mean fully, not the retarded version "maiden name hyphen new name".
Is it wrong for me to expect my soon-to-be wife to take my family name?
no
my wife changed her name so her maiden name was her new middle name, and took my last name as her last name. I'm pretty traditional but I didn't have a problem with that; I would have had a problem with the hyphenation scheme.
No. That’s the way it’s been for the past few millennia
Women aren't the property of men anymore
I don't think your expectation can be "wrong" seeing as that's the norm and how most couples today still do it. I think it can be wrong if, upon learning she doesn't want to do so, it causes you a great deal of discomfort and/or indignation. I would then ask, why does this matter to you so much?
Nobody said they where. But it’s been tradition since Roman times and is still tradition throughout the west, and even the East
Kind of, "expecting" things of others when they haven't agreed to it is always a little scummy. It's something you should discuss with your girlfriend and it's fine if it's important to you, or even a deal breaker.
I also feel like this could speak of largely different world view between you two and you should definitely discuss those before you get married.
Flip the script. If she doesn't want to take your name then don't sign a contract and marry her. This could be avoided if you married a religious woman. You can't force any woman to take your last name, just like she can't force you to get married.
>Women aren't the property of men anymore
Then lobby for marriage and family law reform.
Not really, it's a thing for Brits and Americans and a few countries across Europe but not even most countries in Europe.
It's never been tradition in Italy, France, Netherlands, Spain and Spanish speaking countries, Portugal and Portuguese speaking countries.
>it’s never been tradition in Italy, France, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, etc
Except for that whole Roman Empire thing? And regardless, why get bitchy about it? It’s just a symbolic handing over of responsibilities, from the father to the husband
Roman women kept their own name, they just added their husband's.
>why get bitchy about it? It’s just a symbolic handing over of responsibilities, from the father to the husband
Because some women might not like that symbolism of being "handed over" by their dad to their husband. They might feel like they give up a part of their identity, it might not be part of their traditions so it just feels weird to them. There are plenty of reasons why someone might not want to give up their maiden name.
Not men, just The Man.
>that symbolism of being "handed over" by their dad to their husband
it isnt symbolism. you're leaving your parents family and joining a new one you are making with your husband.
It is symbolism. I can physically move out of my house, marry a guy and have children with him without changing my last name. Everyone in my country does it just fine.
Plus - your husband is leaving his parents family and joining a new one he is making with you, so why doesn't he leave his last name as well?
Again, no issue with it, if that's what you and your partner want to do and it makes you feel good I 100% support you. But it's nothing more than a symbolic tradition and it's just as fine to not want to change your name for a reason or the other.
No it's not.
dont change the subject. you were talking specifically about
>some women might not like that symbolism of being "handed over" by their dad to their husband
Spanish guy here. I agree totally.
Still, the OP lives in one of those countries in which they still do it, so I can see how OP would like it to be that way.
But I think he should come to terms to what his wife wants. It is her choice, after all. If he makes a drama out of this, it's just insecurity.
>It’s just a symbolic handing over of responsibilities, from the father to the husband
I didn't know that. Now that's fucked up. It's the XXI century, for god's sake.
I'm not changing the subject, I replied to your post. If you were trying to make a point your point didn't come across very well.
If you want me to further explain it: I'm not cattle, my dad doesn't own me, he doesn't "hand me over" to my husband who now acquires my property and signifies it by putting his name on me.
I'm my own person, I've been responsible for myself for all my adult life, I freely choose who I marry, I keep my own rights even once I'm married and ultimately I'm free to leave the marriage if I choose to as well. This is the reality in all western countries.
It is a purely symbolic gesture. My husband isn't responsible for me more than I am for him, and certainly he isn't in the same way my father wasn't responsible of me when he gave me his name.
Totally right. I wouldn't have put it in a better way.
>and certainly he isn't in the same way my father wasn't responsible of me when he gave me his name.
*in the same way my father WAS responsible for me
I get that, again I'm not opposed to it or anything. If I was an American marrying an American I'd probably do it.
But I'd also understand a woman feeling more strongly about it if she's very accomplished in her career, or if she doesn't like the symbolism, or if she feels strongly about these subjects.
It only matter if your child takes your name. Your wife will get old and die just like you so her family name doesn't matter.
Only sane mother fucker here.