On Wednesday, Italy’s Constitutional Court overturned the country’s tradition that a child has to be given their father’s last name automatically. Now, both parents have the option of choosing what their child’s surname will be.
The court has said that using the father’s last name is “discriminatory and harmful to the identity” of the child. The court added that kids should have both parents’ last name. This should come in any sequence that they decide upon unless the parents only want to use one name.
Now the Italian government will be required to make and approve the new legislation.
Each state has its own laws regarding surnames on birth certificates in the United States.
In most states, a person has to have two names, a first name and a family name. Additionally, some states make it mandatory that a child have the father’s last name. That is if the parents are married at the time of the baby’s birth. In Mississippi though, a different name can be requested if the married parents want.
At the same time, some states permit the child to have the mother’s maiden name only.
‘…we recognize equal dignity and equal responsibility, even parental, to both parents…the choice of our Constitution is the choice of a democracy that can be said accomplished only in the face of a full reach of gender equality,” stated an Italian official.
“…mothers will be given the same dignity as that of the father, a sign of civilization,” commented Italian lawmaker, Cecilia D’Elia.
