diff --git a/lib/active_enum/extensions.rb b/lib/active_enum/extensions.rb
index 290ed7b..600d16e 100644
--- a/lib/active_enum/extensions.rb
+++ b/lib/active_enum/extensions.rb
@@ -105,11 +105,12 @@ def #{attribute}(arg=nil)
       # Examples:
       #   user.sex = 1
       #   user.sex = :male
+      #   user.sex = 'Male'
       #
       def define_active_enum_write_method(attribute)
         class_eval <<-DEF
           def #{attribute}=(arg)
-            if arg.is_a?(Symbol)
+            if arg.is_a?(Symbol) || arg.is_a?(String)
               super self.class.active_enum_for(:#{attribute})[arg]
             else
               super arg
diff --git a/spec/active_enum/extensions_spec.rb b/spec/active_enum/extensions_spec.rb
index 49f0420..ac17c76 100644
--- a/spec/active_enum/extensions_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/active_enum/extensions_spec.rb
@@ -182,6 +182,11 @@ class Accepted < ActiveEnum::Base
         person.sex.should == nil
       end
 
+      it 'should store id value when valid enum name' do
+        person.sex = 'Female'
+        person.sex.should == 2
+      end
+
     end
 
     context "with value as enum name" do
@@ -198,6 +203,11 @@ class Accepted < ActiveEnum::Base
         person.sex.should == 'Male'
       end
 
+      it 'should store value when valid enum name' do
+        person.sex = 'Female'
+        person.sex.should == 'Female'
+      end
+
       it 'should return true for boolean match' do
         person.sex?(:male).should be_true
       end