Changing Surname Upon Marriage from The Male Perspective

Abstract

In patriarchal societies, women are generally expected to adopt their husbands' surnames upon marriage. After a prolonged period during which women were required to adopt their spouse’ surnames, the recent shift in this practice makes it important to examine men’s perceptions of this change. In order to comprehend this perspective, it was necessary to utilise the theoretical frameworks proposed by Talcott Parsons and Raewny Connell. Connell, a distinguished figure in feminist studies, advanced a critique of the structural-functionalist approach pioneered by Parsons, a sociologist who dominated this field in the United States. The rationale behind the utilisation of a dual theoretical framework in this study is still felt today: Parsons' "role theory" and Connell's concept of "hegemonic masculinity". Parsons' structural-functionalist approach elucidates the significance of family unity and the perpetuation of lineage, as articulated by the interviewees. Connell's theory demonstrates that patriarchal structures reproduce asymmetrical power relations not only in male-female relationships but also among men themselves. In this study, a total of 25 male participants who had been married at least once and residing in Ankara were selected through purposive sampling to provide insights into the subject matter.