I'm keeping my name. I've already published work and have built up some professional credibility under THIS name; in academia, it's not a very good idea to have publications by one person under several different names. That's why you'll see women who have been divorced for decades still go under Husband #1's name. In smallish fields such as mine--you really don't want to do the name switch.
Also, my name reflects my ethnicity.
If I hated my father's last name and my family so much, believe me, I would have changed it loooong before marriage was a possibility. If someone from my area knows my last name, they'll also know who my "people" are. It's a variation on a very common name, but it is limited to a small area of the state. Mr. Munch's name is the same way--it reflects his background, not mine! I'd rather keep my last name.
It doesn't mean I love him any less; nor does it mean that women who change their names love their husbands more than I will love mine.
Maybe things would be different if I were a Jones or a Smith.
Also, Sister Munch kept her name. My nephew has a hyphenated name. He has both of his parents' last names. Where is the confusion in that?
Besides, there are already two Mrs.________. There really don't need to be any more.
