Only 7% of American women keep their last names when marrying. Columnist Jessica Valenti and guest Laurie Scheuble discuss why that is

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This week, host Jessica Valenti asks why so few American women decide to keep their names when marrying and where the tradition comes from.



“Your wife was part of your possessions – your belongings – and she had absolutely no more say than your cow did,” Laurie Scheuble, sociologist at Pennsylvania State University, tells Valenti. “She belongs to him; she has his last name.”

These days only 7% of American women keep their last name when marrying, according to Scheuble. In this episode they discuss attitudes about marital last name choice and practices like hyphenation.

We’re taking a short break at the beginning of next month and will be back with you on 23 July.