Women to get choice of Mrs, Miss

Women to get choice of Mrs, Miss

From the middle of this year, married women, divorcees and widows will be allowed to decide whether they want to be addressed as Miss or Mrs.

Published on February 8, 2008

The legislation relating to women's titles will take effect from June 4, according to Suchit Tripitak, deputy director-general of the Office of Women's Affairs and Family Development.

"The legislation was announced in the Royal Gazette on February 5 and will be enforced 120 days after the announcement, which falls on June 4," he said.

"Since we want women to have equal rights with men, they should be able to choose the title they want. In the next four months, women's titles will identify only their gender, not their marital status as in the past."

Meanwhile, a draft bill that would allow people to change their titles after undergoing a sex change operation was not passed by the previous legislature, the National Legislative Assembly.

"Some contents of the draft bill have been found to affect other acts, for instance the Civil Registration Act. We have to discuss the effects on other acts to adjust appropriate details in the draft before we submit it to the new government for consideration," Suchit said.


Wannapa Phetdee

The Nation