This was the headline on a column which garnered strong reaction and debate from readers on our social media channels this week.
We’d like to hear what you think. Do you think that women should keep their original surnames after they get married? As Áine Kenny wrote: “While women in Ireland are no longer viewed as their husband’s property, changing one’s surname is still a loss of identity.”
Do you think it simply a harmless tradition and just like the idea of becoming a Mrs? Is it for the ease for family administration and border control with children? Do you think it just depends on the family?
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What do you think about families going double-barrelled? Or men taking their wife’s surname? Whose name do you think children should use?
As Kenny says: “I often hear women worrying that if they don‘t change their name, they won‘t have the same surname as their kids. While this is a valid concern, why are we automatically giving children just their father’s surname?”
Tell us your thoughts on the alternative options or what happens in same-sex marriages. “I’m beginning to hear of another option: the couple chooses a new surname that they both take. This can be an amalgamation of their existing names, or a totally new name,” writes Kenny.
You can let us know what you think using the form below. Please limit your submissions to 400 words or less. Please include a phone number for verification purposes only. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, please indicate this in your submission – we will keep your name and contact details confidential.
We will curate a selection of submissions for an article but please note we may not publish every submission we receive.
