Yeah... it can be interpreted that way. But even as a feminist myself, it is a dumb performative sort of protest. Paternal surnames are the least important fixtures of our patriarchal society, and, unless it was created wholecloth, there are no surnames that aren't patriarchal historically, as the meme points out.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Yeah, I wasn't trying to call you a misogynist, just point out how the meme might look at first glance.

[–] kryptonianCodeMonkey 32 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Wasn't my post, just advocating for OP

[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 days ago

oh, right

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

If they think their actions are having much effect, sure, but otherwise I think you're making assumptions and overreacting. Not everything is for show, people can do things like that just because they personally want to.

[–] kryptonianCodeMonkey 20 points 5 days ago (2 children)

The context of the meme implied she was doing it because she's a feminist and that taking her mother's name was somehow an expression of that. Of course she can do that, but it isn't achieving anything if that was the goal

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 days ago (1 children)

she is achieving and asserting herself, a right that is denied to her on most every other level.

names are symbols. taking ownership of your name may not be material, but it is meaningful. if names were meaningless, trans people wouldn’t change their names, African-American communities wouldn’t change their names, et cetera. but they do, and feminists do, because achieving oneself, having domain over oneself even to the extent of identity, is meaningful especially against a history where that right is restricted against you in favor of the dominant class.

[–] kryptonianCodeMonkey 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Sure. It would be personally meaningful. Changing your name is always meaningful, I would hope. But it is not contributing to the the dismantling of the patriarchal norms. Not every action has to be, of course. But the conceit of this post is implied to be that her intention was just that, a rejection of patriarchal naming conventions. If that was her intention, it was misguided and failed to achieve that goal.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 4 days ago

you take a conservative (lowercase c) approach to the concept more than i do, and that’s fine.

but from a holistic perspective, the very fact that we have this conversation proves my position. the symbols stand for something. they promote dialogue and awareness of patriarchal repression by subverting it. little girls can look to the woman who takes her own name and derive conviction of self worth and autonomy.

none of this means that taking one’s name is the ultimate be-all feminist act, but i just take issue with your characterization of it being “dumb performative.” i encourage you, as a self-proclaimed feminist, to reconsider heaping that kind of abuse onto people just extending their reach to where generations before was impossible. at worst you appear to be recentering patriarchal narratives, at best you’re being mean.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Okay, and? Why is your immediate thought to mock that?

[–] kryptonianCodeMonkey 0 points 4 days ago

I didn't mock it. The meme did.