Opinion

Women's Right To Choose a Surname

By CHRISTINE CUNANAN-NOMURA

Many Japanese women have their own opinions on the current dispute in the Diet on allowing spouses to choose their own surname. Some prefer to use their husband's family name while others ― particularly working women ― find it more convenient to retain their single name even after marriage.

Both schools of thought are valid. Women have different needs and expectations and each woman's circumstances must be considered and respected.

Choosing a surname should be an inherent human right. For this reason I totally support the New Party Sakigake and the Social Democratic Party's crusade to change current Japanese laws. If these parties are successful, all Japanese women will be able to choose which name to use legally after marriage.

In contrast, some of the actions and arguments of the more traditional Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) border on the ridiculous.

I find it difficult to believe any argument made by these parliamentarians on such an important issue for today's women. They've never experienced the inconveniences and difficulties related to changing a surname that many women must deal with constantly in the real world. They probably have little inkling of the problems and the situation of ordinary Japanese women. Consequently they are in no position to presume to know what is best for women in this case. Arguments put forward by LDP female Diet members also fail to grasp the depth of the issue and are disappointingly shallow.

In a recent interview, LDP member Sanae Takaichi claimed that allowing spouses to use different surnames will contribute to excessive individualism and weaker family ties. She said that some women may want to use their own name just to avoid having legal ties to their husband's family and shouldering traditional responsibilities such as caring for the elderly bedridden parents-in-law.

I believe that family ties and values are important but these do not hinge on a surname. A responsible woman will manage family affairs to the best of her ability regardless of her surname, while a woman who does not want to be burdened with the same tasks will avoid these even if she is using her husband's name.

Besides, husbands and society in general have an equal role and equal responsibility in enabling the modern Japanese family to exist happily and decently. For lawmakers to assume that forcing wives to use the same surname as their husbands will automatically keep the Japanese family and society together smacks of oversimplicity and male presumptuousness.

If the LDP is really concerned about maintaining family values, it should look toward social education at home, at school and at the workplace rather than at what name a woman uses on her documents.

Shukan ST: June 13, 1997

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