Of Random Observations
Something I've noticed in the last few years, interacting with (cis het) couples married and unmarried is that a lot of unmarried couples long or short term, introduce one another by their names, with the occasional modifier of boyfriend/girlfriend, before or after the person's name.
A lot of married couples follow the same pattern, usually putting the modifier wife/husband first.
But I've seen (heard?) a fair amount of married men who'll just say, "This is my wife."
...O.K., then. What's her name? I'm not going to walk around calling her "Hey, So-And-So's wife." (Often she offers it right after that base introduction.)
I haven't heard/seen married women doing the same thing. (But, then, maybe it's just the people I happen to meet.)
Just something that tickled my brain. Made me think about how we introduce our significant others. Modifiers don't bother me, "my boyfriend," "my wife." So long as that person's name comes after them.
For some men it seems really important that they get that "wife" bit in there early (and, seemingly, at the exclusion of the woman's name.) Maybe they're just shitty at introductions?
(ETA: A lot of men I've known are shitty at introductions. My dad being one of them; mom has to introduce herself. Matt forgets to introduce me half the time. I think that's partly because he never remembers who I've met and who I haven't. "People come and go so quickly here." On social days, I'll introduce myself. On anti-social days...eh, whatever.)
Personally, I'm not even big on modifiers. When I introduce Matt it's usually: "This is Matt." And I'm done. I'm sure I'd do it even if we were knotted up in legalese.
If we're around people I know, they probably already know who he is. Anyone else can ask for further clarification. Or not.
A lot of married couples follow the same pattern, usually putting the modifier wife/husband first.
But I've seen (heard?) a fair amount of married men who'll just say, "This is my wife."
...O.K., then. What's her name? I'm not going to walk around calling her "Hey, So-And-So's wife." (Often she offers it right after that base introduction.)
I haven't heard/seen married women doing the same thing. (But, then, maybe it's just the people I happen to meet.)
Just something that tickled my brain. Made me think about how we introduce our significant others. Modifiers don't bother me, "my boyfriend," "my wife." So long as that person's name comes after them.
For some men it seems really important that they get that "wife" bit in there early (and, seemingly, at the exclusion of the woman's name.) Maybe they're just shitty at introductions?
(ETA: A lot of men I've known are shitty at introductions. My dad being one of them; mom has to introduce herself. Matt forgets to introduce me half the time. I think that's partly because he never remembers who I've met and who I haven't. "People come and go so quickly here." On social days, I'll introduce myself. On anti-social days...eh, whatever.)
Personally, I'm not even big on modifiers. When I introduce Matt it's usually: "This is Matt." And I'm done. I'm sure I'd do it even if we were knotted up in legalese.
If we're around people I know, they probably already know who he is. Anyone else can ask for further clarification. Or not.