it's all patriarchal and shit
Mer went to the Social Security Administration and changed her name today.
She now has two middle names -- Hope and her last name (redacted to protect the guilty) and my last name tacked on at the end.
It all sounds very Hamptons.
I'm not sure how I feel about it -- she can do whatever she wants, as far as I'm concerned. I never expected any name changes on my behalf, although I was on record in my youthful college years spouting off one piece of sexist nonsense -- wanting any spouse of mine to take my name tout suite. It was vitally important to me then; I could care less now.
At any rate, I think she did it for two reasons: 1) to provide a more consistent environment for eventual bambinos and 2) because many of our friends were/are doing it.
Mer and I are always slaves to peer pressure.