Women's surnames and titles: Men's and women's views

This study extended research on women's surname choices and terms of address. Account of unmarried women and men were examined to identify factors and dialectical tensions in their reasoning about married women's surnames. Preferences for and meanings of women's titles, surname preferences for children, and perceptions concerning commitment and love were ascertained. Sex differences were found in the rationales for surname choice. Men and women preferred women and children to adopt male surnames and preferred married women use the title of Mrs. Men and women associated differing meanings with titles of Mrs. and Ms. Finally, men were more likely than women to associate a woman's surname choice with her love for, and commitment to, her partner.