Mrs His Name

Identity, tradition, and the hidden politics behind a woman’s surname

Mrs His Name examines the complex question of why women in Turkey must change their surnames after marriage or divorce and investigates what this expectation reveals about gender, identity, and social norms. Directed by Nande Cayir, the documentary draws on an autoethnographic approach as the filmmaker questions both acquaintances and strangers about the practice. Early in the film, Cayir receives dismissive reactions such as the remark that there are many subjects to film, implying that the topic is unimportant. This sets the stage for a deeper inquiry into why the issue matters and what is at stake for the women involved.

The film uses two distinct interview styles to highlight the different ways men and women relate to the topic. Conversations with men are presented in voice over and paired with unrelated images, which emphasises a sense of distance and suggests that the subject is seen as socially marginal or impersonal. Many male interviewees frame the question of surnames as one tied to tradition, viewing any change from established norms as a disruption of social order. In contrast, interviews with women are filmed face to camera and grounded in personal testimony. Their stories reveal how name changes are interconnected with questions of identity, autonomy, and legal recognition.

One of the most striking accounts is that of Asuman Bayrak, who fought to retain her own surname and describes the bureaucratic and emotional struggle that accompanied her decision. The film also includes the reflections of a recently divorced woman who questions what it means to carry, and then relinquish, her former husband’s surname. These individual experiences are complemented by references to legal cases taken to the European Court of Human Rights, illustrating how the issue extends beyond personal narratives and into debates about rights and equality.

By situating the Turkish context alongside examples from France and Quebec, where women cannot adopt their husband’s surname, the documentary broadens its perspective on how identity and agency are shaped by legislation and cultural expectations. Throughout its 17 minutes, Mrs His Name reveals that a surname is far more than a formality. It is a marker of belonging, history, and selfhood, and for many women the act of changing it carries profound emotional and social consequences.