why is the new PC term "significant other" being pushed today??
what is so offensive about saying husband/wife boyfriend/ girlfriend??
2007-02-17 04:44:17 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
nothing I guess.. Significant other is a term which prevents the listener from knowing anything about the person's sexuality. Maybe that's why?
2007-02-17 06:31:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes they use it so they don't offend anyone... I work at an office and sign people in all day long... and when someone comes up to me I have to have them show me idea, and if they are married or whatnot I have to see their husbands/wifes id... and I don't want to say... "Can I see your husbands id as well" and them get offended b/c I said husband not knowing that it was a female... So, just to be on the safe side... I say, "can I see your significant others id too"... people don't get upset, and sometimes I am really glad I say that b/c their are a lot of gay people that come in lol.
2007-02-17 05:16:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I use partner.
Husband/wife is legal civil contract. You can use it in Canada, for example, if you have had the ceremony. Boyfriend/girlfriend is so amazingly juvinile, and I can't imagine calling anyone that who has been with living with me for years.
Common law is the legal definition for non-married spouses of more than one year. I have used that with my betrothed before we were married. So now I have one legal husband, and one common law wife. Polygamy is not against the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Canada, but like Same sex marriage, it must take a Supreme Court challenge to codify the contract.
And we could smoke pot at the weddings if we wanted to, too...
2007-02-17 04:54:19 · answer #3 · answered by treycapnerhurst 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's simply an all-inclusive term, to avoid having to go through all the possible specific terms.
For example, my boss is having a party next Saturday, and the invitation said "bring your significant other."
That's a lot easier than saying "bring your husband, wife, girlfriend, or boyfriend, whether you are gay, straight, bisexual, or transgendered."
It's mostly a term of convenience and inclusiveness, not of inoffensiveness or political correctness. Just my opinion.
2007-02-17 04:50:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well it's inclusive. I personally would use boyfriend or girlfriend, and am thinking I would probably use fiance if I was in a state not allowing marriages and had a boyfriend who I wanted to marry, and of course I would just marry if I had a girlfriend I wanted to marry and call her my wife.
2007-02-17 05:08:18 · answer #5 · answered by guitarherofairy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like the term "significant other" because it doesn't force me to specify. I live with a man. We aren't married, but we are certainly committed. I like to refer to him as my partner or significant other because boyfriend sounds, well, juvenile.
2007-02-17 05:16:12 · answer #6 · answered by UFO 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because it is too longwinded to say spouse/partner/boy(girl)friend/mate/friend when you arent sure what level a relationship is. But significant other covers same sex, hetereosexual, long term, married and casual relationships.
2007-02-17 04:49:24 · answer #7 · answered by jeanimus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't know
2007-02-17 05:11:33 · answer #8 · answered by jaz 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋