• I changed my name when I got married because it felt like it was expected of me. • I regretted it later, but I don't want to go through the hassle of changing it back. • Now I use my maiden name as part of my professional name to reclaim that part of my identity.

Prior to getting married in 2015, changing my last name felt like an inevitable part of the process. Both my husband and I were from conservative, traditional families, and I didn't know anyone who had kept their maiden names after tying the knot.

While the practice felt both outdated and sexist, I also felt as though not changing my name could be a potential source of conflict with extended family.

I thought changing my last name would make things easier, but it didn't

We also eventually wanted children, and I was think

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