5 Reasons You Should Use 'Partner'
Start writing a post
Relationships

5 Reasons You Should Use 'Partner'

Especially if you're straight!

51
5 Reasons You Should Use 'Partner'
The Bayside Journal

I’ve had several different types of relationships throughout my life, many of them nebulously defined. Midnight lovers, f*ck buddies, crushes actualized through love, crushes crushed by love, sexually-tense best friendships, location-based lovers, and a partner.

I was discussing a potential relationship with a new lover once and he said, “if we were ever boyfriend/girlfriend,” and I stopped him, short. “Sorry, but we will never be that because I hate that terminology.”

Now that the homophobic, early 2000s joke “business partner or sexual partner?!” has finally subsided, it’s time to embrace it. Partner is the best possible title for someone you’re in a loving relationship with.

Partner is an incredibly dynamic term for several reasons, which I’ve outlined here. All it says is, “this person matters a lot to me.”

1. First of all and most importantly, it’s genderless.

I’m never in favor of assigning irrelevant gender information to anything. Why does one need to be designated with having a vagina by adding a suffix? An actor is an actor (not actress), a server is a server (not waitress), and partner, similarly, doesn’t demand a gender assignment. People love people. So, let’s get away from acting like one’s sex determines everything about them. And it’s perfect for people who don’t identify as either — genderqueer, intersexed, trans, etc. Let’s make space for those who identify outside the female/male binary!

2. It’s less privileged (if you’re straight).

Instead of flying your heterosexuality banner high, experience the discomfort of coworkers, family, and middle-aged strangers stumble over the pronouns of your significant other. As a queer person myself, it feels much more comfortable to evade the sexuality question and settle into the ambiguity of my various partners’ genders. I also enjoy forcing people to use “they” as a pronoun and feel endeared to those who use it comfortably.

3. It’s free of stage and status.

No longer do you have to differentiate between whether you have been engaged to marry by saying “fiancée,” or have undergone dear holy matrimony with “wife.” As younger generations move away from traditional lifestyles, where less and less people get married, referring to a relationship as a partnership is a nice catch-all term for every stage of the relationship.

4. It implies equality.

It says, this is a partnership in which both sides work together in order to make it work. No longer is there a set of obligations attached to what girlfriends or husbands are supposed to do. This is a joint undertaking in which both of us are expected to take time and energy supporting one another, whether that means providing for a child or washing the dishes.

5. It can be both serious and casual.

I think when one says, “my partner,” it means that this is the one, the most important of my romantic relationships (ignoring the implied possession). And if one says, “a partner,” it could be a sexual partner, or a polyamorous lover, or a monogamous life partner.

Of course, you can call your sweetheart whatever you’d like. I know a lot of those in the LGBTQ community want to specifically identify their partner’s gender because hell yeah, you’re here and you’re queer. Shout it out about your girlfriend, girl. And that’s really rad too.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

58741
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

37882
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

959433
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

194890
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments