Azzurra,

I don't think you're being pedantic in the least.  I'm in the same
situation, but I've never objected to it, relying on the fact that
heteronormative assumptions run so deep that it seems to me it would
never actually occur to anyone that the names might be the same.  I've
actually been thinking about the idea of "bastard politics" for some
time.  And perhaps this is oddly quietist, for the ways that we get
erased in corporate and institutional structures can of course be
"oppressive" but also strikes me sometimes as granting us some sort of
wiggle room - unseen by the panopticon, who knows what might take place?
 However, I also completely agree that these assumptions have no place
in an institution that prides itself on the task of thinking well.

Best,
Emma


-- 
  Emanuela Bianchi
  Visiting Assistant Professor
  Department of Philosophy
  Haverford College
  

----- Original message -----
From: "Azzurra Crispino" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Sun, 18 May 2008 18:50:59 -0500
Subject: APA Login Screen

Hi,

I just noticed that the default security question for the APA website  
is "what is your mother's maiden name?"  I've repeatedly requested  
that banks require a password for me and not that information, since  
(a) my mother's maiden name is my last name, (b) this is really easy  
information to find out about someone and (c) I detest the  
patriarchal and heterocentrist notion that a woman gets married,  
takes on her husband's last name, and then has children.  I know in  
the past FEAST has contacted the APA and had good success in getting  
these sorts of things changed.  Does anyone have any suggestions as  
to where I go from here, or am I just being pedantic?

Azzurra