Actress backs husband for taking her last name

joan

June 10, 2015 1:25 PM

''Why is it so surprising, shocking- eventful that a man would take his wife's surname?'' Zoe Saldana on Facebook

Zoe Saldana and husband, Marco Perego Saldana

'Avatar' star Zoe Saldana finds it very ok for her Italian husband, Marco Perego Saldana, 36, to take her last name and doesn't understand why people find it shocking for some men to do it.

Zoe tells InStyle Magazine this month that she had tried to talk her partner – whom she married in 2013 - out of the idea of taking her surname over fears he would be 'emasculated' by his Latin community of men. He replied that he 'didn't give a s**t' it seemed the rest of the world did.

The actress took to her Facebook page on June 9 to explain:

''Fathers, sons, brothers, men everywhere: Your legacy will not perish if you take your partner's surname, or she keeps hers. I’ve been made aware that a comment I made regarding my marriage has garnered some attention. I felt proud that my husband decided to take my last name as his own... and I his. I shared my hesitation with him when he told me about his decision, not only did he say, “I don’t give a shhheeeetttt!!” (with a very strong Italian accent!!) he also asked me, “Why not? What are you so afraid of?" And it made me wonder... What am I so afraid of?

Why is it so surprising, shocking- eventful that a man would take his wife's surname? Women have never been asked if its ok for them to give up their names — why doesn’t that make the news?

Men, you will not cease to exist by taking your partner’s surname. On the contrary — you’ll be remembered as a man who stood by change. I know our sons will respect and admire their father more because their father lead by example.

Gentlemen, I implore you to think outside the box- remove the box altogether. Let’s redefine . A real “man” leads along side his partner. A real man accepts his mortality. A real man acknowledges that nothing can be done alone.

I hope that the “buzz” behind this topic isn’t just for gossip — but an inspiration for us all to look within and see what is truly important.

Let’s start by letting go of some of the limitations we have inherited from the past, and forge a new path moving forward.

With Love, Zoe and Marco''

joan