Ban surname changes for women after marriage

Background

We want the government to legally ban the tradition for women to change their surnames after marriage or for any institutions to assume any name change for women after marriage.

Additional details

We think this could challenge the patriarchal norm that women must give up their original surname in marriage and protect equality by law. Changing your surname after marriage is seen as tradition, but we think it roots from patriarchal norms and imply erasure. I’ve seen women pressured to change their names just to appear “normal” after marriage, or because their company assumed a name change (which shouldn’t be allowed). We do not think a family’s unity is defined by sharing a surname; even if it is, a man is never expected to change his name. By banning surname changes for women, we think we can protect identity and challenge outdated norms.

Where it’s popular

Constituencies with the most signatures on this petition.