1.8k June 8, 2016 As a queer person of color feminist, I cast aside my last name, and that's okay with me While I always expected I would end up marrying a Taiwanese-American person like myself, I somehow fell in love with a man who happens to be white. I never thought I'd end up dating white guys, nor did I think I'd marry one. Weeks before my wedding, I toyed with the idea of changing my name. I could have a fresh start in life — new name, new license, new everything. But then the feminist part of me strongly opposed taking my husband's name. How can I completely eradicate my single life and the accomplishments I achieved under my maiden name? What kind of feminist am I? Read More 5.5k 21 Comments March 21, 2016 Tradition, confusion, and appropriation: Changing your name in an intercultural marriage There’s a lot to consider when contemplating a name change, of course: personal branding, publications if you’re an writer, your spouse’s feelings on the matter, your own thoughts. But there are extra things to mull over if your marriage is an intercultural one. With that in mind, here’s what I thought about when making my decision… Read More 14k 85 Comments January 20, 2016 My name isn't "Mrs": On changing my mind about changing my last name Changing my mind about changing my last name was undoubtedly really confusing for my husband, because I had clearly stated my intention to take his name once we were married. But when people started calling me "Mrs. HisLastName" I didn't like it. It was as though my first name was "Mrs," my last name was "HisLastName," and no identifier of who I was previous to getting married was left. It made me especially angry when we would receive something addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. HisFirstName HisLastName" as though I was not even worthy of a first name anymore. As though I am just a wife. I love being his wife, I love that we're married, but I want to define my marriage. I don't want my marital status to define me. Read More 6.5k 44 Comments December 2, 2015 Sexism, history, and punctuation: Everything you ever wanted to know about Miss, Mrs., and Ms Being a professional calligrapher and Medieval History major, I'd like to address (no, I'm not sorry about the pun) the hot topic of Miss, Mrs., and Ms. I'm not going to get into whether or not you are taking your spouse's last name. That's a whole other can of worms! I'm talking about the history of these three titles for women, and their purposes… Read More 21k 44 Comments November 4, 2015 It's about me becoming me: Why I'm changing my first AND last name after marriage Did I want to keep having the same tiresome, negative conversation with every new person that I meet? Not really. Is changing my entire name going to be incredibly inconvenient? Most certainly, in terms of process, costs, and social confusion. Is my happiness worth the inconvenience? When I asked myself that question, the answer was a resounding YES. Additionally, I now have no problem taking my partner's (delightful) last name when I will also be taking my own first name, on my own terms. Read More 123…6 Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
5.5k 21 Comments March 21, 2016 Tradition, confusion, and appropriation: Changing your name in an intercultural marriage There’s a lot to consider when contemplating a name change, of course: personal branding, publications if you’re an writer, your spouse’s feelings on the matter, your own thoughts. But there are extra things to mull over if your marriage is an intercultural one. With that in mind, here’s what I thought about when making my decision… Read More 14k 85 Comments January 20, 2016 My name isn't "Mrs": On changing my mind about changing my last name Changing my mind about changing my last name was undoubtedly really confusing for my husband, because I had clearly stated my intention to take his name once we were married. But when people started calling me "Mrs. HisLastName" I didn't like it. It was as though my first name was "Mrs," my last name was "HisLastName," and no identifier of who I was previous to getting married was left. It made me especially angry when we would receive something addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. HisFirstName HisLastName" as though I was not even worthy of a first name anymore. As though I am just a wife. I love being his wife, I love that we're married, but I want to define my marriage. I don't want my marital status to define me. Read More 6.5k 44 Comments December 2, 2015 Sexism, history, and punctuation: Everything you ever wanted to know about Miss, Mrs., and Ms Being a professional calligrapher and Medieval History major, I'd like to address (no, I'm not sorry about the pun) the hot topic of Miss, Mrs., and Ms. I'm not going to get into whether or not you are taking your spouse's last name. That's a whole other can of worms! I'm talking about the history of these three titles for women, and their purposes… Read More 21k 44 Comments November 4, 2015 It's about me becoming me: Why I'm changing my first AND last name after marriage Did I want to keep having the same tiresome, negative conversation with every new person that I meet? Not really. Is changing my entire name going to be incredibly inconvenient? Most certainly, in terms of process, costs, and social confusion. Is my happiness worth the inconvenience? When I asked myself that question, the answer was a resounding YES. Additionally, I now have no problem taking my partner's (delightful) last name when I will also be taking my own first name, on my own terms. Read More 123…6 Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
14k 85 Comments January 20, 2016 My name isn't "Mrs": On changing my mind about changing my last name Changing my mind about changing my last name was undoubtedly really confusing for my husband, because I had clearly stated my intention to take his name once we were married. But when people started calling me "Mrs. HisLastName" I didn't like it. It was as though my first name was "Mrs," my last name was "HisLastName," and no identifier of who I was previous to getting married was left. It made me especially angry when we would receive something addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. HisFirstName HisLastName" as though I was not even worthy of a first name anymore. As though I am just a wife. I love being his wife, I love that we're married, but I want to define my marriage. I don't want my marital status to define me. Read More 6.5k 44 Comments December 2, 2015 Sexism, history, and punctuation: Everything you ever wanted to know about Miss, Mrs., and Ms Being a professional calligrapher and Medieval History major, I'd like to address (no, I'm not sorry about the pun) the hot topic of Miss, Mrs., and Ms. I'm not going to get into whether or not you are taking your spouse's last name. That's a whole other can of worms! I'm talking about the history of these three titles for women, and their purposes… Read More 21k 44 Comments November 4, 2015 It's about me becoming me: Why I'm changing my first AND last name after marriage Did I want to keep having the same tiresome, negative conversation with every new person that I meet? Not really. Is changing my entire name going to be incredibly inconvenient? Most certainly, in terms of process, costs, and social confusion. Is my happiness worth the inconvenience? When I asked myself that question, the answer was a resounding YES. Additionally, I now have no problem taking my partner's (delightful) last name when I will also be taking my own first name, on my own terms. Read More 123…6 Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
6.5k 44 Comments December 2, 2015 Sexism, history, and punctuation: Everything you ever wanted to know about Miss, Mrs., and Ms Being a professional calligrapher and Medieval History major, I'd like to address (no, I'm not sorry about the pun) the hot topic of Miss, Mrs., and Ms. I'm not going to get into whether or not you are taking your spouse's last name. That's a whole other can of worms! I'm talking about the history of these three titles for women, and their purposes… Read More 21k 44 Comments November 4, 2015 It's about me becoming me: Why I'm changing my first AND last name after marriage Did I want to keep having the same tiresome, negative conversation with every new person that I meet? Not really. Is changing my entire name going to be incredibly inconvenient? Most certainly, in terms of process, costs, and social confusion. Is my happiness worth the inconvenience? When I asked myself that question, the answer was a resounding YES. Additionally, I now have no problem taking my partner's (delightful) last name when I will also be taking my own first name, on my own terms. Read More 123…6
21k 44 Comments November 4, 2015 It's about me becoming me: Why I'm changing my first AND last name after marriage Did I want to keep having the same tiresome, negative conversation with every new person that I meet? Not really. Is changing my entire name going to be incredibly inconvenient? Most certainly, in terms of process, costs, and social confusion. Is my happiness worth the inconvenience? When I asked myself that question, the answer was a resounding YES. Additionally, I now have no problem taking my partner's (delightful) last name when I will also be taking my own first name, on my own terms. Read More 123…6