In the two separate articles, both titled “Does a Family Need to Share a Surname?” authors Liz Breslin and Laura Williamson have opposing opinions. Breslin believes that family members need to share a surname because she wants her family to be identified as a united family. In addition, in her opinion, using a same family surname also is a symbol of togetherness. By contrast, Williamson states that a family doesn’t need to share a surname because she thinks it isn’t necessary. Therefore, she gave her name to her son. I agree with Breslin because I think that people should follow the tradition, family togetherness, history. When couples decided to get married, something they need to consider is if they would like to follow the tradition of People traditionally know the women should take their husbands name and pass on the male surname to their children. Even though she is a “feminist”, “this is not a feminist issue for me. It is a family one.” (65). Breslin stated, “We decided, after thinking it through, that tradition works for us – having the same name is part of the shared identity we treasure.” (66). In addition, she wants to have the symbol of togetherness by sharing the same surname. “what make us a family are shared time, meals, songs, traditions, and customs.” (66) Breslin also wants her family united, and she thinks sharing a last name supports being Although not sharing a last name can’t really hurt anybody, it is important for a child’s identity. Traditional people understand that children always have the same surname as their fathers. Therefore, people may not realize the relationship between them if they don’t have the same surname. Besides, connections between mothers and children are strong, but fathers also play a very important role in families, as Breslin herself points out. The blood of the child is the combination of the blood of his/ her parents. I can’t give my children my wife’s last name just because she was pregnancy. It doesn’t make sense to me. Furthermore, there are many ways to show the love of the father for his family so they don’t need to be concerned about sharing their name with their children. In fact, I agree with Breslin’s views because I think that people should follow the tradition, reinforce family togetherness, and adhere to history. Many women and children find that having the same last name as their husband helps them feel more like a family, and a new name is an important symbol of a family united. It is not only the tradition in America but also a tradition all over the world. For example, my country, Viet Nam, people passes on the husband’s surname to their children. It historically states a long time ago and becomes a tradition. If anybody tries to do the opposite, they will be called ill
. . social and legal bonds [are formed] out of love and loyalty instead of defining family as a group coalesced under . . . a singular name" (28). Filipovic says this to suggest to her audience that there is no need for one name to define a family because there still can be unity in the family. There can also be family unity when there is an agreement between both the woman and her husband for the family name and where the woman has the choice of choosing. If the idea of changing the last name becomes too difficult for the woman or her husband, they should be able to agree upon a new last name or hyphenate their two last names. There is no family unity if the woman is not able to keep her last name if she wishes to or have a chance to discuss about it.
Despite having the liberty of choosing who you want as a family, you cannot, however, run away from the fact that your primary family (blood-related) play the most significant role in your development. Whether you
“Be who want to be,create a name for yourself”(Unknown). Being one is the greatest gift to society. Creating a name for one is important and key to striving in throughout society. A name will never define someone as a person. The person will define the name. The article “ ‘Black’ Names: A Resume Burden?” by Bootie Cosgrove- Mathers discusses, the burden many parents of color face when choosing their child 's name. The stereotypes set out throughout society on if a parent of color should name their children “black” sounding names is significant. Parents of color should name their children “black” sounding names to embrace their black identity, bring across equality, and end the negative stereotypes that come with “black” sounding names.
A name changing the identity of one is exactly what happened to Firoozeh “Julie” Dumas. Before her name change, Dumas was regarded as being one of those immigrants with a name no one wanted to learn. But after changing her ...
For immigrant, minority, or English learning student, name has historical and hereditary significance. They may have stories behind their name which are suppressed when they are regularly compelled to adjust to an “Americanized” setting. However, that transition forces students to take name that do not define them. Yee Wan moved to United States from China when she was 17. When she enrolled to a school at United States, she was forced to change her name-- she had to decide whether to keep her native name or change to American name so that it would be easier for her teachers to pronounce her name. Realizing that there was no choice, she had to change her name to Winnie. (McLaughlin 1). Similarly, Michelle-Thuy Ngoc is a US born teen
The idea of “family” is almost entirely socially constructed. From grandparents, to friends, to wives and fiancés, the means by which we decide who is related to us and who is not is decided by the person and their milieu. In Mignon R. Moore’s “Independent Women: Equality in African-American Lesbian Relationships”, Eviatar Zerubavel’s Ancestors and Relatives: Genealogy, Identity and Community, and Franz Kafka’s The Judgement, this idea is tested. Who do we consider close enough to us to share our most intimate details and how do we choose them? Each piece offers a different view, which is the “right” way for each of the people described, whether broad (as in Zerbavel’s reading) or specific (as in Moore’s reading), but there are also many similarities in the ways family is defined and actualized.
There are still families that are respected because of their legacy. For instance, the Kennedy’s were already a prominent family in society before John F Kennedy became president. Other prominent family names include Hilton, Gates, Booth, and Pinckney because of the histories and wealth associated with these families. This way, people are still born with a certain level of honor and prestige based on the family name they carry. Even on a local level, families carry reputations of having certain traits. Before meeting a Falls, one may expect to encounter a calm, reserved, intelligent person because those are traits associated with the Falls name. On a personal level, a person’s name still holds keys to a story. Public records are kept on everyone. A skilled researcher could uncover a person 's past simply by researching a name because that name carries a story. Anything a person does, whether good or bad, is associated with a name. Sometimes people to form opinions on someone based on a person’s name because the name alone tells a story. Modern cultures may view names casually, but they still carry power
Armand Aubigny took pride in his family name to the point where it influenced his viewpoint towards his slaves. In the story it says “What did it matter about a name when he could give her one of the oldest and proudest in Louisiana” (Chopin 1)? Typically in the South, the aristocratic family name meant everything in terms of identity, wealth, and power. Back in the antebellum period, segregation and slavery was accepted as it was deeply engraved in the Southern culture. To be a slave meant to be of the lowest in the social ladder as they were considered property, while the big plantation and slave owner...
In efforts to examine how genealogy evolved into its modern manifestation, Weil’s, Family Trees: A History of Genealogy in America is a “genealogy of genealogy.” Family Trees is a study of genealogy in America and its reciprocal effects on society. Weil divides his book into four chronological regimes of genealogy in America, each presented with their own set of problems. These problems did not just disappear after each
Families are there to build each other up and help prepare each other for the future. “Family is the single most important influence in a child's life”(Smart Beginnings). Family names and individual names show personality and individuality. Treating people like they are just another number makes it easier for them to give up on themselves; and eventually take their own life. In an article published in 2009 Jim Connolly expresses, “These people have feelings. They have good days and bad days. They have ups and downs. They have days where they want to cry with joy and days where they cry with sorrow. These unique, immeasurably valuable individuals are many things to many people, but they are NOT numbers”(Connolly). In Anthem, Ayn Rand exaggerates the use of communism by identifying characters with numbers carelessly chosen by the government. explains, ¨Our name is Equality 7-2521, as it is written on our iron bracelet which all men wear on their left wrists with their names upon it¨(Anthem
In this futuristic society, families are assigned. When one is ready they apply for a spouse. Once they get their match they are allowed to apply for a child. Each family gets one son and one daughter. This is a good example of conformity in the book. This has negative effects on the society because nobody can name their own child. When two parents receive their kids, they all already have names. Also everyone has the same amount of people in their family, four. This adds to the conformity in the society. It highlights the part about sameness and dullness in Lowry’s warning. More
Marriage practices vary across cultures. Every culture has its own way of conducting marriage according to their traditions and customs. Most cultures share common customs and practices, while some cultures have unique practices. Marriage refers to a social union agreed upon by the couples to unit as spouses. The union of couples implies sexual relations, permanence in union, and procreation. This research paper focuses on comparing marriage practices in American and Indian culture. There is significant difference between the two cultures in marriage practices.
There was an article in The New York Times called “The Changing American Family” by Natalie Angier that illustrates this point. The writer discussed the way in which the typical family structure has morphed into the many versions that can be seen today. Through her research, Angier noted that “anthropologists have traditionally used the term ‘fictive kin’ to separate such relationships from ‘true’ kinship based on blood or law, but many researchers have recently pushed back against that distinction, arguing that self-constructed families are no less real or meaningful than conventional ones.” (23) Personally, I think that if someone acts like family, then they become my family. These “fictive kin” do not exist to me. The title of a family member must be
Marriage in our global society is a common practice, as well as having a family and passing on the family name. Traditionally, people get degrees from college, go to work, meet someone, get married, and have kids. However, Brave New World does it differently where the concept of mothers and fathers is completely foreign. In Brave New World saying the word mother is the equivalent to swearing in front of your mother in ours. Life forms are created in incubators, all genetically alike, and don’t have a family to teach them morals and how to function in the
The tradition of women taking a husband’s last name is fairly new. This tradition arose in the 1970’s. Before the 1970’s, women were referred to as the mistress of the said husband. This was due to the fact that it was assumed that the husband would take care of finance and business. Although, about 50 to 90 years ago, women became upset with being treated as property. Due to this, they began taking their husband’s last name, this didn’t come into play until the 1970’s though. I believe women should take their husband’s last name. When a woman doesn’t take the husband’s last name, her usual argument is because it strips her personal identity. This argument is not true. I believe women should take the husband’s last name because it shows a connection to family, it’s less confusing for children, it shows unity, there are less misunderstandings and business transactions are generally easier.