I didn't take my husband's last name, and people are surprisingly judgmental. They ask what he thinks about it.

In a patriarchal society, women are still expected to change their last names upon marriage, reinforcing gender norms despite personal convictions and achievements.

Changing my last name felt like relinquishing not just my identity, but also the accomplishments I'd worked hard for, as if diminishing my own value.

Despite my challenges with name changes, my husband was supportive, yet society’s judgmental gaze reminded me of the cultural pressures still at play.

From personal experience, I learned the importance of assertively claiming one’s identity, especially as a woman in a world that often pushes conformity.

Read at Business Insider