Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
An individual choice in something that one is known most by - their name.
“What’s in a name”, he wrote. “That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet…”
Beautiful and true. But we have evolved a lot since Shakespeare wrote this.
A name, my name – was chosen for me. I’m the namesake of a star student in my mom’s school. It was a name she liked since her early teens. Back then she may not be thinking about naming her baby, or even having babies. But the name stayed with her for years.
At my birth, the stars aligned as if I was meant to have that name. A Taurus by Vedic astrology, I was to have a name that begins with B, V, U or W. And mom picked a nice one. The one I have since four decades now.
Surnames, I understand, originate from regions, occupations, religion or status. Put together, I had a unique name – just one in my world.
As a young journalist, getting a byline in print was a big deal. To see you name under the headline of the article on which you’ve worked really hard, is a great feeling. My dad collected by articles in a portfolio. He would proudly show it to friends who came over. When we went more and more digital, I started saving the weblink to add to my CV.
So after my marriage, I kept my name and added my married surname to it. I didn’t want to lose my identity of 25 years, yet wanted to embrace the new title of Mrs linked with his surname. It felt even more complete. And somehow more important. For a long time I kept my maiden surname as my middle name – mostly until I was writing with bylines. Later when I switched to content writing, it seemed simpler to just drop the middle name. It felt right at the time. I was married for a long time and had grown into the new identity. Even today, my married names remains unique in the world; and I love that!
Both my children were named while they were still in the womb. My husband and I picked their names and chose how we will spell them. There is meaning to each name. And we hope our children display the virtues their names hold. We hope they love their names as much as we do, and are proud to introduce themselves likewise. If they don’t, they may grow up to change it into something that rings true for them. Though a name is chosen for them, it is eventually their choice if they want to make it their identity.
A choice. An individual choice in something that one is known most by – their name. So when it comes to young women getting married – lets leave it to them to choose how they will be addressed. Same name, new name, new surname… whatever rings true for her.
Image via Unsplash
Writing comes more naturally than speaking. People and the simple joys in my life inspire me to write. read more...
This post has published with none or minimal editorial intervention. Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
Please enter your email address