I KNOW My Name

Deciding what my name is…excuse me, but shouldn’t I have the right to decide that?

When I write you a letter or introduce myself with a so-called double-barrel surname, who gives you the right to decide what I should be called? Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence I have found. Sometimes when I want to prove a point when someone thinks they have the right to drop the McCurdy from my name and call me Mrs. Crooks, I totally ignore them – they are not calling me.

If only some of the self appointed ‘name police’ would stop to think that there are persons whose surname from birth is two family names joined by a dash. I have a number of nieces and nephews who have double barrel surnames. I have a friend who routinely educates persons when called by the last of her surname that she is single and never married and therefore should be addressed by her double-barreled surname.

Etiquette would dictate that you find out what someone would like to be called before dropping one name. Maybe I should consider suing for emotional distress or sexual discrimination. After all, men with double barrel surnames do not have anyone dropping one of the surnames when being addressed. So, the ignorant will continue to make fools of themselves by calling a woman married to a double barrel surname male by one part of her surname.

This is a pet peeve of mine and I hope of others ladies too. Women had identities before they were married so no one has a right to decide that my identity no longer exists. Before deeming to change how I’m addressed, please ask me…thank you.