Amal Alamuddin has changed her name professionally

I think I see it as more of an issue than the other things you describe because it is about giving up your identity solely for a man. There's pressure for us to do many things but this is an easy one not to do too! It's not like you feel self conscious if you keep your name like you may do if you don't wear makeup. It's so easy not to change it.

What I'd like to know is why people find it so hard to realise that criticism of a particular custom doesn't necessarily translate to criticism of the individuals who go along with the custom?

I made an unfeminist (anti feminist for many I suspect) when I changed my name. I have made many choices that certainly are not neutral in feminist terms. I wear make up, I shave my legs, I was a SAHM for some years, plus I also have a career now which is of equal importance in our family to DH, an entirely fair division of domestic responsibility, a DH who has made changes in his career to support mine, and so on.

This is such a high profile issue for many. I don't see it as more significant than the others. Sometimes I look at the lives of women who have not changed their name and are vociferous about it, and question whether they are living the principles of feminism more than I. Whether the decisions they make about their lives impact other women and the choices available to them more than this decision of mine. I am not always convinced. I do agree that it is certainly not a feminist choice. Just not that it has the significance over other choices that it sometimes seems to have.

And my name is my name. My mum divorced and remarried, but kept the name she had had for getting on for 40 years. It is her name.

I don't know who this woman is expect that she married george Clooney but I feel disappointed any time a I see a woman change her name and go by Mrs so I agree op.

I feel frustrated when women who have made their name - really, made their name known through their actions and talent and achievements - then give that name away in favour of the name of a man's name.

I would like to think that they both had equal regard for their respective names and would each have called themselves Clooney Almuddin, or Almuddin Clooney. (she has added his name, not replaced her surname with his).

I would like to see more women challenging the staus quo - that a woman takes her husband's surname, and children take the father's surname. When it isn't taken for granted as a patriarchal custom then whatever people do will be what they actively choose and have no more currency than any other choice. While taking the man's name is the default, it remains a contribution to a patriarchal status quo.

I see that as a matter of fact - but have no judgements about what individual women do. It's up to them.

But it is undeniable that it is the default that women give up their names and children are named after the father. Choose in line with that default, it may or may not affect any view of you, but accept that it is a custom within a patriarchal default.

"Just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her."

Vestandknickers I'd have Mr Alamuddin tattoed on his.

So liking Notting Hill is the sine qua non of being a hypocritical feminist? I think I liked it; I don't remember much except the guy with the t-shirt that said "Fancy a fuck?"

Voyager

Much was made of her changing her name for her professional life but not her private one.

Exactly Chunderella. If she hated her name, and was prepared to change it, why not do that earlier? Like before she became well-known? No one needs a man to come along to help them change their name, least of all a lawyer.

...maybe she just really hated her maiden name?

I love living on my own

And it's suddenly gained a whole new relevance, Showme :)

Nothing Hill is RUBBISH.

Is there a bra-burning event somewhere I don't know about? Nobody ever tells me anything.

(I can't even remember what happens in Notting Hill)

You scream feminism but you are also the first to find a guy and marry him.

Erm... after my bra-burning diatribes below, my most recent post is about how I have also never got married. (Despite, amazingly, having a man and having kids with him.)

Livin' the dream...

All you burn the bra type of women are the worst. You scream feminism but you are also the first to find a guy and marry him. With you, haters, Leopards change their spots when it suits them.

Sheltered Housing are full of burn the bra type women who live all on their lonesome.

There is nothing wrong with a woman taking her husbands name- except with you bunch of haters- hate -hate -hate- hate............

Hands up all of you who have watched Notting Hill and loved it ?

DOUBLE STANDARDS