The tradition of taking your husband's name has come under fire. Some women see it as an outdated and sexist practice, while others believe it is a time-honored tradition. When I was a little girl dreaming about my fairytale wedding, this question of whether I would keep my name or take my fiance's was one of the few details I never worried about; I always knew the answer.
The practice of adopting a husband's last name was all but required until the feminist movement of the 1970’s. Some believed this tradition suggested that the woman was becoming the man's property. Now women have a choice. Around 85% of women continue to take their husband's name. The rest hyphenate or keep their original surname.
This article appears in May 12-18, 2011.