North American women's surname choice based on ethnicity and self-identification as feminists

Abstract

Using empirical data gathered through surveys, this paper analyzes how surname choices of women residing in the United States - whether to acquire her spouse's surname or retain her birth surname - differ based on their ethnicity, age, and feminist self-identification. From a sample of 260 Black and White females, ages 16-70+, data were categorized for participants' responses to eight questions. Crosstabs were calculated to explore correlative patterns among participants for marital status, race/ethnicity, age, surname decision upon marriage, perception of feminists, and feminist orientation. The research reveals that women's self-identification as feminists are not direct predictors of their surname choices. Fully 81 percent of women surveyed, regardless of their ethnicity and age, reported that they did change or will change their surname upon marriage. Of the 19 percent of women who responded that they would retain their birth surname when married, only 14 percent identified themselves as feminists. This study leads to further questions about trends in naming choices and perceptions of feminism and feminist actions particularly among women aged 16-39. © American Name Society 2011.