New Marriage, New Name?

Re “In the Name of Love,” by Suzanne Schlosberg (May 22): When I got married 16 years ago, I kept my maiden name and have had no regrets. I do not believe a woman becomes a man’s property upon marriage and so does not need his name to claim her as such. There have been no problems legally, with tax returns or with any other aspect of our lives.

The argument that there should be one family name “to signify our joint life together” is often put forward by men who are not willing to change their names but expect their wives to do so.

There are no easy answers to the complicated issue of names. The ideal is for everyone to feel free to use whatever name they feel comfortable using rather than continuing a tradition they do not believe in for simplicity or societal pressures.

LISA GURAVITZ

Newbury Park