Unwomen at it again

I tend to ask if the woman has ever used a different/previous surname, because that actually covers more situations. But if I asked what their family name was, they'd just tell me their current surname surely!

Exactly - previous surnames is much better, covers all eventualities

Ioads of things ask for mothers maiden name as a security question - my sons will have no chance, I'm not married, and even if I did I wouldn't change my name.

Even partner is considered a more serious step from boyfriend/girlfriend.

That's an odd one. Saying 'my partner' implies a more serious relationship than 'my boyfriend' but if you're asking about an unknown person instead of talking about yourself, 'do you have a partner?' is the better choice - it stops someone having to explain that no, they don't have a boyfriend - but they do have a girlfriend! Or vice versa.

'Representative' for 'businessman' is the weirdest one there to me. Without context, I'd assume a representative was a politician of some sort. Businessperson is a bit of a clunky word, but it exists. Previous name or original surname would be a better replacement for maiden name.

Some of these make perfect sense- firefighter, police officer. Isn't this standard language?

Family name to replace maiden name however I do dislike the term (probably because it sounds like old maid). I'm a midwife so I have to ask about this at booking appointments. I tend to ask if the woman has ever used a different/previous surname, because that actually covers more situations. But if I asked what their family name was, they'd just tell me their current surname surely!

This reminds me that for 20 odd years I was referred to as the Female Policeman or the Policeman lady!

@Mockers

Police Woman was a WPC, a separate rank that no longer exists. There are still male and female officers and the law requires this distinction, especially in custody where the searching and welfare of females in custody is always the responsibility of a designated female officer on duty.

How does this comply with current practice of the stonewalled college of policing guidelines? I thought male police officers could now ‘identify’ as women and have the right to search and be in charge of the welfare of women in custody - trampling the rights/needs and vulnerabilities of women in custody.

Serious question - and serious times if I question need to be ask the question.

A businessman is not (necessarily) a representative, a legislator may not be a congressman or woman though a congressman is a representative, and the words manpower and workforce are used differently. As already pointed out a landlord may not be the owner, and your your maiden name won’t be your family name (unless you kept it). Even partner is considered a more serious step from boyfriend/girlfriend.

HuMAN really? You have to do better than that! Hupersons at least!

What would we replace surname with family name?

Maiden name is a different thing entirely. I could have a surname and a maiden name.

Interestingly when I was in school this sort of thing was considered a feminist angle.
It's perhaps another example of a focus on language that doesn't bear quite the expected fruit.

But surname sounds a bit like ‘sir-name’. Can’t have that

Saying 'owner' instead of 'landlord ' can come across as strange. I used to know a woman - English wasn't her first language- who kept referring to her 'owner'.

Oh UN Women - I guess they do like to 'un-women'.

I have requested that they take the woman part out of their name (since they include everyone in that list) but for some reason, my unreasonable demands aren't listened to on twitter.