I don't know what research you did for this article, I grew up in Asia and am half Chinese. All the Chinese women, including my grandmother and mother, I know are very proud to keep their own names, to signify their own lineage and heritage. A common practice is for women to legally retain their own names, but use the title of Mrs. XXX socially. This article once again confirms that when the west tries superficially to understand the east, it always gets it wrong.
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So the opinion of "Zhang Rongli, a law professor at China Women’s University" is accorded the same weight as "A commenter identified as Mu Qing Shan on Baidu Feminism Tieba, a social media site," who "did not respond to attempts to contact her"?
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Are Chinese children required to take their father's name? This is the bizarre thing in the US when the woman keeps her name but her children have another last name even when she is the main caretaker or like so many, are single parents.
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Kids generally take their father's surname but sometimes take their mother's surname if the mother has no brothers and so there is no one else to carry on the surname of the mother.
I know it seems strange to have a mother having a different last name than her children but in China it's the norm so no one expects to see mothers with the same surname as their children. People generally refer to the mother and father as the parents of 'child's name.' There's no occasion where you'd need to refer to the "family surname."
I know it seems strange to have a mother having a different last name than her children but in China it's the norm so no one expects to see mothers with the same surname as their children. People generally refer to the mother and father as the parents of 'child's name.' There's no occasion where you'd need to refer to the "family surname."
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Even in (relatively progressive) Hong Kong: when our son was born, the birth certificate form had an entry for the father's full name, an entry for the mother's full name, and an entry for the child's given name ... because the family name was automatically assumed to be that of the father.
Children in the US are not required to take their father's name.
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As a (Chinese) Eurasian, I appreciate this article, as most Americans and Europeans assume women's marital name changes are a universal tradition. My sisters and I never considered changing our names when we married for numerous reasons, but one of them is that Chinese women don't.
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In ancient European cultures, owners BRANDED their animals, so that if the animal strayed-off the owners fields it could be claimed by the rightful owner. If an animal was sold, the new owner would put HIS brand on the animal. European cultures regarded women as a POSSESSION (or potential possession) of a man. At birth the female child was BRANDED with the father’s man; on marriage the woman would be passed to the man, who would REBRAND her. In English speaking areas where it became necessary to show old ownership and new ownership, the new brand would be displayed first and then the old brand would be disclosed (Eli Smith on marriage to John Lank would be described in formal documents as Eli Lank née Smith).
In European cultures the system of dowry made the father of the bride pay money to the groom to get his daughter REBRANDED. Many a young lady became a nun for the family lacked the rebranding fee; a lot of young ladies remained SPINSTERS, for the same reason.
In European cultures the system of dowry made the father of the bride pay money to the groom to get his daughter REBRANDED. Many a young lady became a nun for the family lacked the rebranding fee; a lot of young ladies remained SPINSTERS, for the same reason.
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A society determines a person’s status or worth (and gender power balance) by his or her contribution to wealth generation.
In Pastoral times a woman is no more than a reproducing animal. All the work is physical and external e.g feeding, watering, tending, slaughtering the animals.
In Agrarian Era, her status rises since she can contribute both in field as well as in hearth, but labour is still largely physical and that limits her contribution. Work is both external and domestic, and home is her factory.
In era of trade/exchange that we are in today, labour is largely mental, so her status rises suddenly as ceteris paribus she can not only do all that a man can, but also give life, in theory can exceed man in stature.
For example in Abrahamic systems this status is reflected in its 3 versions for the 3 Economic Eras.
In the Islam of Moses for pastoral times a woman is worth nil in the Old Testament.
In Islam of Jesus for the Agrarian era, the Gospel now raises her status. She is even the mother of 1/3 of a god.
In Islam of Mohammed for the Trading Era, woman may be at times considered superior to man [3:36].
Likewise, Corporate Capitalism values woman by her contribution to corporate profit. It discourages families since pregnancy hurts the bottom line. Because of woman's monthly periods or pregnancy, the system can get away with paying them less, and extract more work from women for less pay.
In Pastoral times a woman is no more than a reproducing animal. All the work is physical and external e.g feeding, watering, tending, slaughtering the animals.
In Agrarian Era, her status rises since she can contribute both in field as well as in hearth, but labour is still largely physical and that limits her contribution. Work is both external and domestic, and home is her factory.
In era of trade/exchange that we are in today, labour is largely mental, so her status rises suddenly as ceteris paribus she can not only do all that a man can, but also give life, in theory can exceed man in stature.
For example in Abrahamic systems this status is reflected in its 3 versions for the 3 Economic Eras.
In the Islam of Moses for pastoral times a woman is worth nil in the Old Testament.
In Islam of Jesus for the Agrarian era, the Gospel now raises her status. She is even the mother of 1/3 of a god.
In Islam of Mohammed for the Trading Era, woman may be at times considered superior to man [3:36].
Likewise, Corporate Capitalism values woman by her contribution to corporate profit. It discourages families since pregnancy hurts the bottom line. Because of woman's monthly periods or pregnancy, the system can get away with paying them less, and extract more work from women for less pay.
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There was no Islam during Moses' time.
Jewish writings describe women as valued "above rubies".
Women still make considerably less than men doing the same job, with the same amount of experience. Employers know they can get away with that and do.
Jewish writings describe women as valued "above rubies".
Women still make considerably less than men doing the same job, with the same amount of experience. Employers know they can get away with that and do.
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Many societies traced their family down the female line, not the male line. This includes the Danes, Celts, Greeks, Jews, Iroquois, Nairs, Nubians, Thai, Sri Lankans, Jivaros, Hopi, Arabs and many others. It was dictated by the biological fact that it was impossible to prove who the father of a child was, but was entirely possible to prove who the mother was. Giving your property or title to your sons and grandsons meant there was a good chance that future generations had zero blood relationship to the current family. Can't ignore Mother Nature.
Later, many societies replaced matrilineal societies with patrilineal societies. They tried to control women's sexuality to ensure future generations were indeed blood relatives of the father. It's a barbaric practice that continues to this day.
Later, many societies replaced matrilineal societies with patrilineal societies. They tried to control women's sexuality to ensure future generations were indeed blood relatives of the father. It's a barbaric practice that continues to this day.
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There is less of this practice here, especially with the modern miss retaining or adding the husband's surname to her own.
For the more traditional Chinese, a married woman is addressed as "madam" plus her original surname. For single women - "miss"
For the more traditional Chinese, a married woman is addressed as "madam" plus her original surname. For single women - "miss"
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Patriarchal surnames perpetuate misogyny. This will not change unless women AND men share the challenge of creating a new way of naming our families. When my husband and I married 22 years ago in the US, we added a third name to both of our birth surnames. Our children have the new surname we chose, a non-patriarchal, but meaningful name for our family. My hope is that more families come up with creative alternatives to the limited but typical discussion for marrying couples: his surname or not.
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One mistake here. I've done extensive research with Chinese genealogical records, and they don't omit wives, though they usually (not always) omit daughters. Wives are also mothers of the patriline, and as such need to be worshipped as ancestors, according to Confucian principles of filial piety. Also, in many parts of China, a man marrying into his wife's family kept his own name, but some or all of the children took the surname of their mother. None of this denies the patriarchal nature of Chinese society, but rather emphasizes the pragmatic flexibility of the system and the people.
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I was always puzzled: why American women believe that keeping their maiden name promotes gender equality. Chinese women have kept their names for generations, are they better off than American women?
Let's focus on the things that actually matter.
Let's focus on the things that actually matter.
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For most of people, male and female, surnames are an inextricable part of our identity. Keeping one's name after marriage has little to do with gender equality, as you point out, since some very unequal societies practice it. But if you think women should change their names as a matter of course when they marry, you should try it. It's no small matter.
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Much ado about nothing. Chinese just never have the tradition of changing
last or surname. Your last name is the one you are born with and keep for
your entire life, no matter you are a man or woman. And Chinese have a much
longer history of having surname than the west. It is the western
tradition of name swapping seems to be strange and discriminatory, as it
is mostly for women only.
last or surname. Your last name is the one you are born with and keep for
your entire life, no matter you are a man or woman. And Chinese have a much
longer history of having surname than the west. It is the western
tradition of name swapping seems to be strange and discriminatory, as it
is mostly for women only.
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One major reason for married women to retain their surname in Confucian societies is the ancient principle of exogamy: the belief that people sharing the same surname are related and not allowed to marry. A couple having different surnames is proof that the marriage is exogamous.
That's not true, since both China and Korea have relatively few surnames that are shared by millions. If both bride and groom are named Yang or Kim, no one would assume a familly relationship. As for the dangers of inbreeding, the Chinese weren't particularly concerned. At least until the Communist era, Chinese first cousins were allowed marry and reproduce, as long as they were related on their maternal side.
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Also in Italy, women do not change their names when they marry.
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So getting husband's name is inequality, but retaining her own family name is even worse. Am I getting this right?
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At the basic level, human species is like most animal species where male and female serve distinctly different biological functions, and that is reflected in the social roles and order in their tribes, whether they are solitary animals or live in groups. It is evolution's management structure to ensure survival and security. Can't ignore Nature.
Sitting at the top of the animal species, human evolved further to alter roles and status gender. Patriarchal structure is more dominant around the world through the ages. It is only very recent in human history that the status of women received more respect widely, despite the fact that most children are closer to their mother.
There is no question the arrival of Communist government gave Chinese women a huge boost in their status, compared to where they were. It started with the women who played significant parts during China's civil war and the long march. But in the scheme of human history, that is still a new development. Much more needs to be done.
During the 2016 Olympic Games, medal winning Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui has become a sensation on Chinese social media because she is strong, cheerful and open, speaking her mind. That could not be accidental. She is a product of her society. But she is also not common. That's why people look to her as a good role model for Chinese women.
Sitting at the top of the animal species, human evolved further to alter roles and status gender. Patriarchal structure is more dominant around the world through the ages. It is only very recent in human history that the status of women received more respect widely, despite the fact that most children are closer to their mother.
There is no question the arrival of Communist government gave Chinese women a huge boost in their status, compared to where they were. It started with the women who played significant parts during China's civil war and the long march. But in the scheme of human history, that is still a new development. Much more needs to be done.
During the 2016 Olympic Games, medal winning Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui has become a sensation on Chinese social media because she is strong, cheerful and open, speaking her mind. That could not be accidental. She is a product of her society. But she is also not common. That's why people look to her as a good role model for Chinese women.
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Great piece and nicely explained!
Is the "outside surname people" mentioned by Mu Qing Shan waixingren (外姓人)? If so, it should be noted that this is a pun for the homophone, waixingren (外星人), which means extraterrestrial alien! I suspect this might be the intended pun, and a clever one by Mu!
Great article!
Is the "outside surname people" mentioned by Mu Qing Shan waixingren (外姓人)? If so, it should be noted that this is a pun for the homophone, waixingren (外星人), which means extraterrestrial alien! I suspect this might be the intended pun, and a clever one by Mu!
Great article!
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