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Married women haven’t been required to take the last name of their husband for years; however, a new trend is popping up worldwide which breaks the patriarchal tradition that has been engrained in us as a society.
Husbands are now adopting their wives last name and more couples are even combining their last names.
A Question of Masculinity?
Milwaukee resident, Sam Van Hallgren who was formerly known as Sam Hallgren, chose to go against the norm when he wed in August. He and his wife chose to combine their last names.
Sam is a co-host of a movie review pod cast, and after his wedding was forced to explain himself to the many questioning listeners and his partner at work regarding the name change.
One listener wanted to know what “sissy juice” the host was drinking and his co-host, Adam Kempenaar told him to “turn in his man card.”
However, Sam and his wife have stuck to their decision claiming the children they hope to have in the future partially influenced this decision to combine their names and they refuse to let the criticism get to them explaining, “It just made sense for us.”
Bill Being Considered for California
The California Legislature is currently considering a bill that will allow men to change their surnames when they marry as effortlessly as women can.
This bill is co-sponsored by the ACLU of California and serves as a follow-up to a federal lawsuit filed by the civil rights group in December. The suit is filed on behalf of Michael Buday, a Los Angeles man who wants to take on his wife’s last name to make evident the affection he has for his father-in-law.
To date, only seven states in America allow men to alter their names without having to go through a long and costly process set out by the court for name changes. This is a process that women don’t have to endure.
Buday is accusing the state of California of gender discrimination for forcing him into this more complex process just because he’s a male wanting to take on a female’s last name.
(Source: USA Today)
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