Mexico legislator proposes changing surname order on official forms

Deputy Miriam Saldaña Cháirez has proposed that all 32 Mexican states modify administrative forms to replace the fields “paternal surname” and “maternal surname” with “first surname” and “second surname.”

The proposal, introduced via the Mexico City Congress, aims to respect the decisions made by parents regarding the order of their children's surnames. The legislator argues that current formats presuppose a specific family structure and can reinforce gender discrimination by traditionally privileging the male surname.

Saldaña Cháirez noted that family organization varies due to local civil laws, adoption processes, and family integration. She also cited a Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) ruling stating that traditional surname ordering can reproduce prejudices that discriminate against women.