|
07-18-2023, 07:45 AM | #1 |
Captain
1882
Rep 615
Posts |
Why do people use the term "my partner"?
My girlfriend and I have been noticing it more and more lately, people using the term "my partner" instead of boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife. When I first starting hearing it years ago it was usually same sex couples, but now I hear it with just about all relationships.
What's the significance of saying my partner over the rest? I'm old school, and if I was referred to as someone's partner I would be taken back and it wouldn't sit well with me. I know this isn't the reason and I mean no disrespect to anyone who uses the term, but to me it sounds like they don't want to commit to what it is. I'm genuinely curious so I can squash my ignorant understanding of it.
__________________
F15 35d M Sport (SOLD ) | F30 328i | 2020 Tacoma TRD Pro
My Diesel Information Thread | My Wheels, Tires, and Fitment Thread | My Teardrop Camper Build | My F15 Suspension Lift Thread |
07-18-2023, 08:01 AM | #2 |
The Seeker
14933
Rep 3,682
Posts |
I'm old-school as well, but I like the term "partner", as it denotes someone working with you through life, not just the girl on your arm. Partner seems to have a longevity to it as well, like she's here working with me to make this happen, not just the flavor of the month.
It's all personal perception though, true partners are married, yet you will not see "wife" changed to "partner." |
Appreciate
3
|
07-18-2023, 08:02 AM | #3 |
Captain
1432
Rep 692
Posts |
Political correctness. Everything has to be equal and the same.
|
Appreciate
17
Murf the Surf20337.00 cmyx6go16580.00 zx10guy5470.50 CTinline-six6941.00 Joachim446.50 T0RM3NT4429.00 jmack548.50 vreihen1619089.00 F36Donut94.50 RickFLM411511.00 xander_g1055.50 floridaorange11574.50 The Libertine1341.50 chowser512094.00 Dpc2u11486.00 HFW0036043.50 stein_325i25262.00 |
07-18-2023, 08:07 AM | #4 |
Brigadier General
5471
Rep 3,292
Posts |
What I'm going to say is probably going to piss off some people, but the term partner has come about with the whole woke movement and betatization of men. Why the term partner is being pushed is because of the narrative to make a man and a women totally equal and not recognizing there ARE differences in what each brings to a relationship. A man brings certain things into a relationship and a woman brings certain things into a relationship. Together those things should compliment. If you don't want to use the normal terms as boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, then I prefer to use couple or significant other.
|
Appreciate
13
|
07-18-2023, 08:08 AM | #5 |
Space Force - 4 Star General
11472
Rep 3,265
Posts |
When my wife and I started dating back in 1999, she used the term for a short while. Her rational was that "girlfriend" sounded like a childish and immature title to be assigned to a professional woman with career and means of supporting herself. We were in fact "partners" in the relationship where we shared duties and expenses. It always sounded funny to me so I never used it. Apparently she stopped using it after I met a few acquaintances of hers, who were suprised becuase they were expecting me to be a woman, based on her talking about "her parner." That was 20+ years ago though, and "partner" really was mostly used by same sex couples. Today it's just more widely used to cover any and all situations, though I still am left wondering "oh, are you gay?"
|
Appreciate
5
|
07-18-2023, 09:02 AM | #6 |
Hoonigan
6941
Rep 3,016
Posts Drives: '09 328i, '98 Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Connecticut
|
I'm a millennial, but I still think someone means their business partner whenever they refer to someone as "my partner".
__________________
"Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
-Dr. Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park |
Appreciate
8
|
07-18-2023, 09:32 AM | #7 | |
The Seeker
14933
Rep 3,682
Posts |
Quote:
Exactly right. Complimentary, not equal in every way. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-18-2023, 10:43 AM | #8 |
Major General
51036
Rep 7,235
Posts |
I'm old fashioned, and I call my wife "my wife." I used to think partner meant a gay couple or a business partner, but I have caught up to modern times, like I always do, just a little slow getting there. Partner can mean a variety of things, as mentioned above, and I am okay with however a person wants to call their significant other. That's their choice.
|
Appreciate
2
HFW0036043.50 stein_325i25262.00 |
07-18-2023, 11:14 AM | #9 | |
Mr. Irrelevant
4429
Rep 683
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
Past results aren't a guarantee of future performance.
|
|
Appreciate
1
Esteban51036.00 |
07-18-2023, 11:29 AM | #11 |
Major General
4282
Rep 5,729
Posts Drives: 2019 M2 Competition Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Orange County, CA
|
My partner...
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-18-2023, 11:46 AM | #12 | |
Colonel
1672
Rep 2,751
Posts |
Quote:
I disagree on true partners needing to be married. I can do a project or business venture on a handshake (partners) without needing a contract. Depends on who and what we are talking about.
__________________
2006 Z4M Coupe - ZHP knob, stubby antenna, clutch delay delete
|
|
Appreciate
1
shawnhayes1913.00 |
07-18-2023, 11:56 AM | #13 |
Captain
1882
Rep 615
Posts |
I feel like saying "my partner" sounds less intimate. If I were to introduce my girlfriend as my partner I would get a stern look and asked "Your what?".
It's always caught me off guard when someone says my partner. I've never known if that meant it was just a mutual agreement on a status without commitment, or a temporary thing, or what it was.
__________________
F15 35d M Sport (SOLD ) | F30 328i | 2020 Tacoma TRD Pro
My Diesel Information Thread | My Wheels, Tires, and Fitment Thread | My Teardrop Camper Build | My F15 Suspension Lift Thread |
Appreciate
0
|
07-18-2023, 12:14 PM | #14 | |
Major General
3105
Rep 5,582
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-18-2023, 12:29 PM | #15 |
How's My Driving?
1224
Rep 1,055
Posts |
I say my wife & my wife says my husband. Neither of us have a problem with those words/titles.
If you want to say partner, go for it.
__________________
2018 Charger Hellcat
2019 Miata 30th Anniversary 2021 CX-5 Signature 2009 Mazda6 |
07-18-2023, 12:32 PM | #16 |
Lieutenant Colonel
4641
Rep 1,929
Posts Drives: Here and There Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: North Georgia Mountains
iTrader: (1)
Garage List 98 Lexus LS400 [10.00]
16 Toyota Land Cruiser [10.00] 97 Toyota Land Cruiser [8.33] 11 BMW E90 M3 Stripper [10.00] |
|
07-18-2023, 12:34 PM | #17 |
Captain
2047
Rep 919
Posts |
I don't mind the term partner. A lot of my older patients use it as they are a widow and in a new relaionship. It seems out of place to use boyfriend/girlfriend when you are in your 70s, 80s, or yes, your 90s.
__________________
2018 F80 M3. YMB/BLK. ZCP. Three Pedals.
"Education will never be as expensive as ignorance." |
Appreciate
2
David701672.00 Donatello.1224.00 |
07-18-2023, 02:13 PM | #18 |
Recovering Perfectionist
19089
Rep 982
Posts |
Fear of commitment, and/or fear of wedding cake.....
__________________
Currently BMW-less.
|
Appreciate
2
UncleWede18324.00 shawnhayes1913.00 |
07-18-2023, 02:14 PM | #19 |
Captain
1162
Rep 778
Posts |
There are specific instances where it is the "correct" terminology too. My partner identifies as non-binary so the gendered terms don't really fit in this case, so partner.
As far as it becoming more widespread, that's interesting and something I haven't really picked up on.
__________________
Mosselman-powered M4 - 698/714 | 2.9 Whipple 2004 Cobra - 690/645 | Instagram
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-18-2023, 02:17 PM | #20 |
Professional Nomad
682
Rep 131
Posts |
I am definitely traditional, old school but I actually don't an issue with the term "partner." I refer to my wife as "wife" and she refers to me as her "husband. "
There are other terms that drive me up the wall and that is more gender based but that is another story and another thread. |
Appreciate
1
Esteban51036.00 |
07-18-2023, 02:19 PM | #21 | ||
Major General
51036
Rep 7,235
Posts |
Quote:
Quote:
|
||
Appreciate
0
|
07-18-2023, 04:03 PM | #22 |
Primo Generalissimo
4891
Rep 4,133
Posts Drives: All of them Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: DC area
|
|
Appreciate
2
floridaorange11574.50 bigrum491.00 |
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|