Why does the woman take the mans last name?

Answer 1

In the old days women were seen as property and that is why she took his name to indicate the ownership. Unlike the post made by another writer, I disagree that it had to do with man sublimation of women. It had to do with letting the world know who she belonged to for several reasons 1- She is mine and don't even think about taking her, and 2- She is protected by me and you mess with her and I shall come a calling on you. So you see women have not been sublimated or oppressed as some of you would like to portray. On the contrary men have protected and revered women throughout the ages. In the old days when laws were rather looser than they are now an unmarried woman was more prone to abuse, slavery, rape, or being seen as a loose woman.

For those women whom do not wish to take the husbands name, all I can say is that is really sad. You are insulting this man by telling him you think you are better than him. Also people will walk up to him and the embarrassing scenario of calling him Mr wife's name. Then he will have to either swallow his pride and let it slide or explain why he has a different last name. A lot of things that people are rebelling against these days can really hurt the other person and you don't even realize it or care in many cases.

Answer 2

Not all of us do. I feel it makes a woman lose her identity, she is now Mrs. John Doe - not only has she changed her last name but somehow given up her first as well. It was something made up by men, because they now have their name on their property - to show a man's control over a woman.

I personally did not change my name, it is the same it has been all my life. I did not hyphenate, nor did I hyphenate my children's names (my last name is their middle name).

Answer 3

a leftover from the days of women's subjugation by men. The times when women were seen as lesser beings. It's so common that it's become the accepted form of things.

Times are changing. Many women now keep their maiden names or hyphenate. Some men are even starting to hyphenate.

Answer 4

the woman does not HAVE to take the man's last name if she chooses not too.

Answer 5

Tradition.

Answer 6

Women have different reasons for this. Mine was simply because I loved my husband, and was proud to bear his name. We also thought ahead to children, because it is so confusing for kids with hyphenated kids, and differently last-named parents, etc. - and we didn't want that to happen.

Answer 7

Traditionally a woman was property.. therfore when she was married she went form her father's possession to her husband's.. the change in name was a way to signify this