Should Women Be Required By Law to Take Their Husband’s Last Name?

I was certainly surprised to hear that 70% of the 1200 folks taking part in a Portland State University study thought that women should take their husbands last name when they marry, and 50% thought the name-change should be mandated by law.

Many in the study group believed that a woman should make her marriage and family a priority, and the name change signified that choice.

According to the New York Times, 30% of women in America no longer change their name when marrying compared to 17% in the 1970's.

In some parts of the world it is actually illegal for a woman to take her husband's name. The Canadian province of Quebec enacted a law in 1981 that prohibits women from using their husband’s surname after marrying. Greece has a similar law, while the Netherlands permit the change only in special circumstances.

So, what do you think? Should women still change their last name's when they marry? Should it be the law? Sound off in the comments here, and on our Facebook page.

- Craig