title: Do lesbians change their last names in the context of a committed relationship?
abstract: SUMMARY This exploratory study begins to redress a critical gap in the literature on committed same-sex relationships and last name practices. Data were gathered from an Internet survey, which included 16 lesbian respondents currently in a same-sex relationship. Analyses explored individual, couple, and family of origin factors associated with changing or not changing one's name. Name-changing was cited as a strategy for securing external recognition and acceptance of family status by outsiders. Not changing was cited as a strategy to preserve each partner's individual identity. Contrary to our expectations, changing one's last name was not associated with having a commitment ceremony. Instead, name-changing was ritualized on other occasions, special to the individual couple, such as an anniversary, a partner's birthday, or an intimate dinner party among friends.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Suter
authors.forename: Ramona Faith
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Oswald
keywords: Ritual; couples; family of origin; lesbian; naming practices