On marriage and surnames

I had a very heated debate with an Aussie colleague the other day.

He said that all women should take on their husband's surnames when they marry.

When I disagreed, he said that I should conform to the Australian culture and traditions since I'm in Australia. He also argued that I would make things less confusing for society if I took on my husband's surname. He stated de facto relationships as an example.

When I get married, people are going to refer to me as Mrs so-and-so. That's fine. 

But I absolutely refuse to change my name on all my legal paperwork (e.g passport, driving license, bank documentation, Medicare, tax and superannuation details, etc). I don't want to have to provide documentation to prove that I am me as well as Mrs so-and-so. It's a pain in the gluteus maximus. I like my name the way it is and I will keep it.

Chinese culture does not require the woman to legally change her name when she gets married. Why should I bow to an antiquated Anglo-Saxon tradition that doesn't apply to me?

Here is how I see it. If this society can accept an astronomically high divorce rate, casual sex, and de facto and gay and lesbian relationships as the norm, it can very well get used to the idea of me keeping my name.

Oh, and another thing. This person I was arguing with says that the Stolen Generation is a lie.

I never thought I'd hear anyone I know say that.

The Stolen Generation was cultural genocide. It was the forceful removal of Aboriginal children from their parents to be placed into white Australian homes. It not only tore families apart. It wiped out entire dialects, customs and beliefs that were integral to the Aboriginal culture. Saying that it didn't exist is like disputing the Holocaust ever happened. 

Gawd. 

And you know what? Despite his strange notions, this colleague of mine is actually quite a nice guy.