In the context of equal rights, it has been possible for women since 1976 in Germany to choose their own last name at a wedding ceremony to the family name. Scientists from UNLV have now conducted a study in the United States examining how women who keep their maiden name are seen by their fellow humans.

A new study of college students reveals that, despite many feminist ideas becoming more mainstream, we’re still punishing women for not changing their name for heterosexual marriage. The study, which questioned far more women than men, showed undergraduate students think women who don’t change their names weren’t as committed to their spouses.

We canvassed the world of the social and behavioral sciences, looking for rising stars whose careers promise to make a lasting mark. Rachael Robnett runs UNLV’s Social Development Research Lab, where she studies why women and minorities are under-represented in science-related fields.