I CHOSE TO KEEP MINE.......
<b>Irene Ovonji Odida</b><br>She has been happily married to the love of her life for 20 years but has never referred to herself as Mrs. Odida. She disagrees with being called ‘Mrs’ and dislikes being referred to only by my husband’s name.
Irene Ovonji Odida
She has been happily married to the love of her life for 20 years but has never referred to herself as Mrs. Odida. She disagrees with being called ‘Mrs’ and dislikes being referred to only by my husband’s name.
“I am Ovonji Odida. Ovonji is my maiden name and Odida is my husband’s name. Whether or not one takes their husband’s name is a personal choice. I did not want to lose my name because I felt I had invested a lot in it.
All my academic and other personal achievements were with my maiden name. However, if a woman wants to take her husband’s name, she should.†Ovonji is glad she kept her name because old schoolmates can still find her with ease.
“For networking purposes, you could choose to keep your name,†she suggests. Even her children go by Ovonji-Odida. “I want them to know that they get their identity from both of their parents.
One time I had to argue with a teacher who insisted on calling my child only by my husband’s name. I went home and got her the child’s birth certificate to prove his name is Ovonji-Odida.
Cathy Watson
I did not take my husband’s name (Pike) because I think it would have looked bad since we were both journalists. it would have made me seem like I was not thinking for myself. we did not have to discuss whether I would change my name or not. I think we just took it for granted that I would not.
I do not think he minds it at all. My mother in law does not like it very much though. Being the only one in the family who is not a Pike can be a nuisance, especially when we book tickets. It has happened quite a few times that they will give everyone else seats that are near each other but put me away from them because they do not know that I am one of them.
That is the only time it is a problem. I think it has become normal for a woman not to take on her husband’s name.
She has been happily married to the love of her life for 20 years but has never referred to herself as Mrs. Odida. She disagrees with being called ‘Mrs’ and dislikes being referred to only by my husband’s name.
“I am Ovonji Odida. Ovonji is my maiden name and Odida is my husband’s name. Whether or not one takes their husband’s name is a personal choice. I did not want to lose my name because I felt I had invested a lot in it.
All my academic and other personal achievements were with my maiden name. However, if a woman wants to take her husband’s name, she should.†Ovonji is glad she kept her name because old schoolmates can still find her with ease.
“For networking purposes, you could choose to keep your name,†she suggests. Even her children go by Ovonji-Odida. “I want them to know that they get their identity from both of their parents.
One time I had to argue with a teacher who insisted on calling my child only by my husband’s name. I went home and got her the child’s birth certificate to prove his name is Ovonji-Odida.
Cathy Watson
I did not take my husband’s name (Pike) because I think it would have looked bad since we were both journalists. it would have made me seem like I was not thinking for myself. we did not have to discuss whether I would change my name or not. I think we just took it for granted that I would not.
I do not think he minds it at all. My mother in law does not like it very much though. Being the only one in the family who is not a Pike can be a nuisance, especially when we book tickets. It has happened quite a few times that they will give everyone else seats that are near each other but put me away from them because they do not know that I am one of them.
That is the only time it is a problem. I think it has become normal for a woman not to take on her husband’s name.