The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-10
A MARRIED woMAN's NAME.
ShouId She he Mrs. John or Mrs,
Mar,s

/ What shall be married woman S
| name? This is the question one of the
women's papers has been trying to answer
for its readers. Shall married woman
| take her husbands name and drop her
| own. being known as Mrs John Smythe
Rogers? Or shall she keep her maiden
name in fun and add to It that of her
husband, writing herself as Mrs Mary
! Jones Rogers? Or shall the wife
and husband unite their names and
! call themselves Jones Rogers? Or shall
| the woman keep strictly to her own name,
| discarding entirely that OF her husband,
! and call herself Mary Jones or Mrs Mary
| Jones2 These are the problems offered
/ IN the way of a womau's name, and they
/ ought to satisfy the ambition Of even the
| most lndividualistic college graduate OF
| this opening year OF a new century.
As women come to do things for them
! selves. however. it is of advantage to them
to keep their own names. Just as II would
be to men. No man Of a positive individ-
uality wishes to appear under the form of
Co. in the firm to which he belongs. He
may submit to IL because he has not
money or experience enough to take any
other position, but he is pleased to have
MS own name appear when that is pos
sihle
Why should Il woman wish to abandon
( her own name, that has become identified
with her personality. and that is in a real
sense part of her individual self The
fact seems to be that as soon as women
make a place for themselves In the world
lhey 40 not desire to abandon their maid
en- names. Professional SINCERE. actors
5trusts, and others refuse to give up what
mas become identified with their successes
! ms increased sense Of personality that
IDENTITIES itself with name known 70 the
publc. and that has Its professional and
business value, has no doubt its influence
IN causing women to refuse to marry
me popular idea of marriage, that merges
f4 IN sN..
dren, must have its influence on worner,
VINO have sought to work out a career for
themselves
Now, whether we think women ought
to be contented with husband and chill
dren or not, the fact is that an Increasing
number of women, and those the most in
tellSent and capable. refuse to marry
We may write or speak as we like In "a
Nor OF women Keeping to the good old
way OF housewifery. we are wasting our
words so far as very large class of the
most capable young women are now con-
Cerned- They have found a mission and
no man can claim them as wife They
have found that the world needs mother
ing, and not one little brood of children
onIy' and they have set themselves to
that work Having entered upon Il and
gained some success in II. why should
they break its continuity and its purpose |
by taking another name and adding other |
lntsrestsE But this question opens up |
the whole problem of womRn's position |
today and it is too large and momentous |
TO settle here.
1t is highly significant, however that |
women should wish to keep their own |
names. not merely because they do not |
wish to marry. but because they have |
gained the vantage ground OF the full |
of personality.
Is Mrs. Rogers herself. or is she merely |
an appendix to Mr.. Rogers? Is she to |
speak in her own name, or must she al
ways refer to him" in order TO know
what to think? Perhaps suffrage for
women is not gaining rapidly, but a vast |
,hange has been brought about in the last |
1aIf century in the recognition of the in |
1iVidualfty of woman. The women who |
quote him are growing small in number |
md the women who have opinions of their |
)wn are rapidly increasing. In the mean
lime marriage does not go on quite so
as formerly, simply because the |
husband is no longer lord and master"
ma TWO wills must be reconciled instead |
II one being ignored
In due time however, when the transit |
ION has been made 10 the full recognition |
4 individuality In woman. It will be found |
nat marriage has become more ideal and |
lappier. That women will ever 20 back
O the old submissive way. having once |
asted freedom, is not to be supposed. |
therefore, marriage must henceforth be n |
cal partnership Of two personalities. or |
Use women will more and more refuse TO |
marry.