I agree with most the listed items in your blog. However, the last point you mentioned “women are often questioned and criticized for choosing to keep their own last names”, in my opinion depends on the culture. In my country, while a woman being called selfish for choosing to work rather than staying home, women in general, keep their own last name when they get married and it is very normal and nobody expects them to change their last name.

As you said, in my country, Iran, also education is very competitive. Parents put a lot of pressure on their kids. In particular, at the high school level, since we do also have a national exam to enter into college.