As a little girl, I never questioned why girls had to give up their last names when they got married. My mother did it, her mother did it, and I am certain her mother’s mother did it. A couple that has the same last name is a sure sign that they are married. It is a tradition. A tradition that doesn’t seem to make any sense anymore.

When people as the question, "Who are you?" I say Morgan Murray. My name is who I am, and no matter if I met a guy I want to spend the rest of my life with, my identify will never change

At every awards banquet, I was always smack dab in the middle since all the kids are lined up alphabetically. My name has followed me around like a relentless puppy dog for my entire life. It dictated when my name was called for senior pictures, and when I had to raise my hand on the first day of college. Thank goodness my last name had not started with an A because I was so nervous that first day. By the time the professor got to the letter M, I was ready to raise my hand.

I am not against marriage. I am against inequality. In fact, I think marriage is a great thing. My parents are married. Having two parents rear me was essential to my upbringing.

But women should not have to forgo their heritage and family name in order to get married. There is simply no need for it anymore.

The reason why men and women share the same that name is because of inequality and oppression. Women and men did not have the same rights. It made sense to take a man's name back then. Women were not allowed to have jobs, own property, or vote for thousands of years.

Therefore, women took the last name of the person she married for survival reasons. America has made leaps and bounds in the women's rights department. Now, it is time for this step. Women should keep their identity no matter who they marry.

My last name is important to me. It is who I am and who I have been, and it is never changing.