Comments on: Titles – please can we move on from the dark ages!!?!?!?

By: Esther

Esther — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:17:46 +0000

I’ve been married for more than 10 years and still look around when somebody addresses me as “mevrou”. I married in my thirties and my maiden name was set into my whole being. I’m sorry that I’ve changed my surname. It took me more than a year to get used to the new surname. And after that just think of myself as Esther. That’s my identity. I like the idea of not having to change your surname at all.
It seems that divorce can make everything very complicated.
And Me and Ms is far beter than “Mevrou”. Dont like that at all.

By: Charms

Charms — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 08:28:27 +0000

I never changed my surname and will not change it if I ever get married again. I feel that there is no need for it. I also use Ms and get extremely p/off when called Mrs.

By: Pinkhairgirl

Pinkhairgirl — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 07:00:37 +0000

Thanks for all the replies
Angel, ja the Ms is pronounced Mizz not great as it sounds like Miss so people tend to write that instead, we need a new one

By: Angel

Angel — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:03:13 +0000

Ooh if you want to make me mad- call me Mrs! It has ALWAYS infuriated me that people make the assumption that as a mom or a woman over 30 you MUST be a Mrs!!
Is that Ms pronounced “Mizz”?

By: al_ice

al_ice — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:52:10 +0000

I always select Ms.

There are a few companies that think I am MR Alice – wouldn’t that be an unfortunate name for a boy.

In Portugal, woman do not change their name when they get married. I like this practise. The name you are born into is yours until the end.
AND incidently children get both parents surname – first the moms and then the dads.

They made a mistake with my surname on my birth certificate. It was a bitch to change in South Africa. I don’t think I will be taking my husband’s surname should I ever get married. I fought hard to get my name right!

By: Tanya

Tanya — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:28:41 +0000

Hear hear!! I loathe the Miss and Mrs thing and always select Ms. If anyone needs to know my marital status they can just ask – both men and women.

By: Arkwife

Arkwife — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:54:47 +0000

I don’t mind being a Mrs per se, but I do see your point. Its not about whether you are married or unmarried or any one of the other complex relationship states, its the fact that any distinction is applied at all, and also that it is only applied to women. Men are also married, unmarried etc etc, but they don’t need to broadcast it to the world. Your marital status doesn’t define your role as an individual. I say down with distinctive titles for women!

By: JaneF

JaneF — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:01:30 +0000

Oops, I did not intend to come across as all man hating. I just hate double standards, bureaucracy and rules which make no logical sense. I actually love men.

By: JaneF

JaneF — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:00:26 +0000

Scott: then surely the bank should just enquire about your marital status? Surely they would have to do this with men? I have never considered myself a feminist per se, but I do have an issue with having been a self-reliant, independent adult from the age of 16, but then by virtue of getting married you suddenly get relegated to dependent status. It is ludicrous and more than a little insulting. Suddenly you can’t do anything without ostensibly getting your husband’s ‘permission’.

And don’t even try to tell me the same rules are applied to men. My ex and I had a joint bond account. i.e In both our names and transactions required BOTH our signatures. I was certainly never able to get even an account balance on the account without written consent from my (then) husband, and yet he was merrily allowed to skim cash out of the bond to the tune for about R50k to support his drug habits – no questions asked and without me being notified in ANY way. The same standards are not applied at all.

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:48:15 +0000

Rights as your exhibit ‘A’. (whoops- my clumsy man-hands pressed enter).