What Happens To My Professional Identity after I Get Married? Perspectives of Female Academics in a Private Higher Education Institution

André van der Westhuizen; Jenna Ramnarain

doi:10.25159/2412-8457/20665

Authors

André Independent Institute of Education (IIE) - Emeris
Jenna Independent Institute of Education

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-8457/20665

Keywords:

surname change, professional identity, private higher education, women in academia, marriage, South Africa

Abstract

It is widely acknowledged that women often adopt their spouse’s surname after marriage as a practice embedded in cultural tradition. However, this adoption and adaptation pose unique challenges for female academics post ceremonial engagements. Through employing a qualitative research methodology, this paper examines the perspectives, motivations, and hindrances behind a female academic’s decisions to change their surname after marriage and the perceived impact that this could have on both their personal and professional identities. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and guided by a self-developed interview schedule, comprising open-ended questions for probing into the intersectionality of gender, culture, and institutional expectations. A thematic analysis revealed several key findings. Participants reported difficulties in balancing their cultural and familial expectations with their academic advancement and acknowledgement. Those who changed their surnames reported concerns with citation consistency and professional visibility. Conversely, social pressures were felt by participants who had kept their last name, which was frequently interpreted as a rejection of cultural customs and conventions. The findings also highlighted a lack of support offered by institutional systems that fail to accommodate these name changes, leaving academics to negotiate this transition on their own. This study contributes to the existing body of literature on the challenges encountered by female academics in higher education, providing insights that can guide institutional policies and practices to enhance recognition for women undergoing name changes after marriage.

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