Abstract
Despite advances in gender equality in recent decades, the majority of women continue to change their names upon marriage
and parents overwhelmingly opt to give children the father’s surname. In two correlational studies, both involving undergraduate
samples from Toronto, Canada, we examined gender differences in naming preferences and in justifications underlying a traditional
name choice. Men were more likely to prefer traditional choices in both women’s married names (Study 1; N = 68) and children’s surnames (Study 2; N = 63), and were also more likely to endorse most potential rationales for these choices. Traditional choices were associated
with such factors as concern regarding family dynamics, whereas nontraditional choices were associated with such factors as
a desire to increase gender equality.
and parents overwhelmingly opt to give children the father’s surname. In two correlational studies, both involving undergraduate
samples from Toronto, Canada, we examined gender differences in naming preferences and in justifications underlying a traditional
name choice. Men were more likely to prefer traditional choices in both women’s married names (Study 1; N = 68) and children’s surnames (Study 2; N = 63), and were also more likely to endorse most potential rationales for these choices. Traditional choices were associated
with such factors as concern regarding family dynamics, whereas nontraditional choices were associated with such factors as
a desire to increase gender equality.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-13
- DOI 10.1007/s11199-011-0034-1
- Authors
- Penelope Lockwood, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada
- Caitlin Burton, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada
- Katelyn Boersma, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada
- Journal Sex Roles
- Online ISSN 1573-2762
- Print ISSN 0360-0025