I am not going to dig deep into the subject that is very obvious – women are expected to change their surname after tying the knot. Lately, women have been using their surnames, sandwiched between their first name and the groom’s family name. Recently, I came across another marital norm where the bride’s first name too is changed. Shocking for some, this is rather common in parts of western India and provinces of Sindh, Pakistan. For some women this can be demeaning, almost a threat to their identity. For others, it is just about following a culture that is deep-seated into a community.
