Suing To Keep Their Names
February 14, 2011 No Comments
Women in Japan are suing for their right to have a different last name than their husbands.
Currently the law says that families must have the same name. Although it’s up to the couple which name they have, it inevitably leads to women taking their husband’s name.
Four women and one man are suing the government arguing “that the civil code clause dating back to 1898 breaches the constitutional guarantee of equal rights for both spouses.” They are also asking for about $70,000 in “damages for their emotional distress.”
They feel discriminated against, “like having a splinter in my heart”, and don’t want their daughters to be forced into the same position.
Taking your husband’s name is not necessarily a bad thing and often families want to have the same name to get a sense of unity. But this should be a choice, not a punishment based on outdated and sexist laws that treat women as property.
Contact the author here: mack@morningquickie.com
