Truth be told, I had no idea Wife Appreciation Day was an occasion to celebrate. Despite constant reminders on social media by media houses that it was “the day” to honour the significant other, and pretty much every married man on my friends list showering their love for their better halves on Facebook, I decided to let the occasion pass.

The practice of adopting the husband’s surname upon marriage reflects societal and cultural beliefs about women's lives, seen as dependent and interconnected.