A World Sliding Backwards
I had a little wrangle with bureaucracy today and gave up in a fit of frustration (or maybe a temper tantrum).
I simply wanted to accept my current reality and change my driver's license from Colorado to Kansas. I admit, I clung to the Colorado license for a couple of reasons. Ostensibly, I held onto it because we owned the house in Durango, and I thought it would be good for one of us to still be considered a resident. In reality, though, I did not want to say good bye to Durango, and even more I didn't want to embrace my existence in Kansas. There was also the fact that they took a really cute license photo last time, and I didn't want to let it go.
But, we officially closed on the house and it looks like I'mstuck living here for a while longer, so I figured it was time to give in and get a new driver's license.
"Do you have your birth certificate and marriage license?"
"Well, no."
"A current passport will do. We need you to prove your married name."
"But I didn't change my name when I got married. I've had this name on every license since I was 16."
"We need your passport or your birth certificate and marriage license. Oh, and proof of address."
"Well, I'm moving into a new rental in a few weeks. I was hoping I could put that address on."
"Not without proof."
Needless to say, I still have my Colorado license for a while. I have my passport, but I could not deal with the bureaucracy anymore today. Besides, I feel like the passport isn't going to be enough, because I kept my name when I got married. Its like I did something wrong, daring to maintain my identity and keep my last name.
Don't get me wrong. I see nothing wrong with taking your husband's name when you get married. But for me, it didn't feel right for a number of reasons. I reserve the name change for my future (imaginary) career as a radio talk show host a la Dr. Ruth--then I will become Dr. Lisa Lee the Love Dr.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="210" caption="We could be twins. ;)"]
[/caption]
What really bothers me about all this was the implication about my name. I suddenly recognized that marriage, in the eyes of some laws, means that I am the property of my husband, or at the very least his legal responsibility. I mean, nobody asked him for his marriage license when he changed to the Kansas license last year. Why should I have to provide mine?
I am the property of nobody. I am responsible for myself.
Is that craziness, or just Kansas?
Well, after I finally finished jumping through bureaucratic hoops (I also had to pay for my tags today--a nice chunk of change) Sarah and I got lunch at the only coffee shop in town. I read the Tulsa paper as I was waiting only to be repulsed by the fact that Kansas is trying to cut funding to Planned Parenthood, while also forcing them and two other agencies that provide abortions to go through some inspections to grant them the right to perform abortions--inspections which might inevitably fail in pulling those rights (they've already yanked it from one of the three). That would make Kansas the only state to not provide any resources for this as well as the first state to pull all funding from a State Arts Council.
So basically, I believe I am now living in a state that wants me barefoot, pregnant, and the property of my husband without the ability to support myself by doing the work I do the best which involves Arts Education.
You know what scares me the most? The potential that our country could easily continue to slide in this horrific direction--backwards to a world where equality exists only in the mouths of men.
I simply wanted to accept my current reality and change my driver's license from Colorado to Kansas. I admit, I clung to the Colorado license for a couple of reasons. Ostensibly, I held onto it because we owned the house in Durango, and I thought it would be good for one of us to still be considered a resident. In reality, though, I did not want to say good bye to Durango, and even more I didn't want to embrace my existence in Kansas. There was also the fact that they took a really cute license photo last time, and I didn't want to let it go.
But, we officially closed on the house and it looks like I'm
"Do you have your birth certificate and marriage license?"
"Well, no."
"A current passport will do. We need you to prove your married name."
"But I didn't change my name when I got married. I've had this name on every license since I was 16."
"We need your passport or your birth certificate and marriage license. Oh, and proof of address."
"Well, I'm moving into a new rental in a few weeks. I was hoping I could put that address on."
"Not without proof."
Needless to say, I still have my Colorado license for a while. I have my passport, but I could not deal with the bureaucracy anymore today. Besides, I feel like the passport isn't going to be enough, because I kept my name when I got married. Its like I did something wrong, daring to maintain my identity and keep my last name.
Don't get me wrong. I see nothing wrong with taking your husband's name when you get married. But for me, it didn't feel right for a number of reasons. I reserve the name change for my future (imaginary) career as a radio talk show host a la Dr. Ruth--then I will become Dr. Lisa Lee the Love Dr.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="210" caption="We could be twins. ;)"]
[/caption]What really bothers me about all this was the implication about my name. I suddenly recognized that marriage, in the eyes of some laws, means that I am the property of my husband, or at the very least his legal responsibility. I mean, nobody asked him for his marriage license when he changed to the Kansas license last year. Why should I have to provide mine?
I am the property of nobody. I am responsible for myself.
Is that craziness, or just Kansas?
Well, after I finally finished jumping through bureaucratic hoops (I also had to pay for my tags today--a nice chunk of change) Sarah and I got lunch at the only coffee shop in town. I read the Tulsa paper as I was waiting only to be repulsed by the fact that Kansas is trying to cut funding to Planned Parenthood, while also forcing them and two other agencies that provide abortions to go through some inspections to grant them the right to perform abortions--inspections which might inevitably fail in pulling those rights (they've already yanked it from one of the three). That would make Kansas the only state to not provide any resources for this as well as the first state to pull all funding from a State Arts Council.
So basically, I believe I am now living in a state that wants me barefoot, pregnant, and the property of my husband without the ability to support myself by doing the work I do the best which involves Arts Education.
You know what scares me the most? The potential that our country could easily continue to slide in this horrific direction--backwards to a world where equality exists only in the mouths of men.
