(no subject)

[wildestranger]

Newly married Ashlee Simpson is changing her name to Ashlee Wentz in honor of her husband, Fall Out Boy Pete Wentz.

"I think that that's something that a woman should do when they're marrying a man," she tells PEOPLE. "It's a tradition that I think is a great tradition."

Seriously? A great tradition? You mean the tradition which declares that a woman who has been her father's property now becomes her husbands' property, that tradition? The one that says a woman's identity should depend on her husband?

I just lost what little respect I had for Ashlee Simpson. And the fact that Pete Wentz seems to think it's a great idea, something that gratifies him, makes me think a lot less of him as well.

Comments

[effervescent.livejournal.com]

I agree with this post. To me, it's more important that women have the choice, not that they're expected to do one or the other. If we expect all women to -not- change their names, that's just as bad as expecting them -to- change their names. Either way is forcing a woman to do what society expects her to do. Giving her the freedom to choose, however - that is a real goal.

[wildestranger.livejournal.com]

Certainly she is entitled to make that choice, just as I am entitled to think less of her for doing so. ;) But seriously, I think there is a difference between asking women to participate in an inherently sexist tradition that devalues the concept of female identity, and asking them not to do that. That said, I wouldn't try to dictate her choice (or any other woman's), what she chooses to call herself is her business. I'm objecting to her claim that changing your name is something women should do and part of a great tradition.