“A woman’s name changes automatically upon marriage.” Newly married and ready to register to vote in 1971, I was told that if I wanted to use my maiden name, I had to go to probate court and change my name back.

The Newton, Mass., registrar opened some thick books and showed me the legal cases that supported his stance. I went to a law library and was surprised by how irrelevant those cases were. Apparently, no one in Massachusetts had challenged any of the court decisions. I met with the city’s lawyer and told him that if I was not allowed to vote in my own name, I’d sue the city. Months of research later, he decided that I’d win.