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What do you think of using the word "partner" instead of boyfriend or girlfriend?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rose on -
Just my boyfriend is fine. I rarely talk about him or mentioned him in conversation thought.
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Permalink Reply by Lauren on -
Eh, I mean, gay people can call their significant others gf/bf also... I think its used for when the relationship is more serious but they can't get married because of stupid laws that won't let them. I kind of like the idea tho because as I get older the terms "girl"friend and "boy"friend seem silly.
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Permalink Reply by RoB on -
This post is already too long for me to read all of the replies. If I'm repeating, I'm sorry.
Anyway, my long-time girlfriend and I just became legal domestic partners in Oakland, CA. (Thanks.)
So, we are going out of our way to use the word partner, and it really does come off a little strange. I feel like it's especially weird in emails and applications, where I can't be there to put connotation to the word. Especially in CA, where partner has this feeling of implying homosexual partners. (It's primarily because the state of CA requires domestic partners to be same-sex unless one is in their 50s. We got around that by registering with our city instead of the state.)
There isn't a word in the English language that precisely expresses what your significant other is and what they mean to you, so just go with whatever feels right. I know that once I'm in my 40s, if I'm not married yet, "girl"friend (or hell, who knows, "boy"friend) at that age will be just as weird as ladyfriend or partner feels now.
Just keep it real. Call him your muscly man and her your 'hon-hon'. It's other people's problem if they don't know whom you're referring to.
~RoB
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Permalink Reply by Kimba McG on -
Here in NZ, Partner is what most people use for any kind of monogamous relationship regardless of orientation. You wouldn't use it if you didn't live together, but it's certainly the 'norm' here. In fact, it's so common that it's kinda weird to call someone your BF/GF if you live together because it implies you're not in a 'committed' relationship. I know, weird.
Having said that, I think the term is really wanky. Before my hubby and I got married, we called each other by name, not 'partner' or 'fiancee'. He was just 'My Matt', or 'my other half'.
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Permalink Reply by Fiona Hadfield on -
I don't use partner but that's just because we like to call each other names, like he'll call me Woman so I'll call him Boy. That's just how our relationship is. I think what you call someone when your together is totally up to you. It's your relationship.
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Permalink Reply by Bri Poster on -
I just don't know if it's a necessary switch.
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