"The" wife. (guys, loving, hubby, family)

[JustJulia]

Originally Posted by ukiyo-e

Reading a post on C-D recently I was struck, again, by several men calling their wives "the wife." Saying "the wife did this or said that" reminds me of someone saying "the dog chewed up my shoes." I don't think I've ever heard a woman say "the husband." Usually it's "my husband."

Any thoughts on why this is? It seems a little, I don't know, distancing or alienating to me.

I call mine "the husband" sometimes, but more likely "the man." It's said with humor. If the man asked me to stop it, I would. Then again, I say chick and guy and dude, and some people get bent out of shape about those.

[Mikala43]

Originally Posted by cindersslipper

I've heard plenty of women refer to "the other half" but they as usually unhappily married.

Really? I use that sometimes.... because he is genuinely my other half, in a good way.

[hawaiiancoconut]

Lets make a thread about why some men (strangers on a public internet forum) refer to their wife/s as "the wife"; just out of curiosity

[grumptacular]

Originally Posted by ukiyo-e

I was referring to "the" as opposed to "my."

I hadn't really thought about it before you mentioned it but I have used the term "my ex". I guess I could start calling her "the Ex" showing no possession. Sold! Thank you.

[kbass]

To each its own...but personally, I don't see anything wrong with saying "my" wife/husband. It doesn't sound domineering at all. Someone is referring to the person they married which constitutes the possession word of "my". I agree with the OP, "the" seems very apathetic towards the person they married. Furthermore, saying "The Wife" could refer to anyone's wife. Most people don't say "the wife" when referring to their friend's wife/ co-worker's wife etc., they would say [name] or "his" wife. So why would someone refer to ones own spouse as "the".

[ChessieMom]

Originally Posted by gwynedd1

"My wife" implies a possessive and domineering husband, hostile to a woman's independence. Any man that says "my wife" is likely irretrievable scum.

The wife on the other hand implies deference to a woman's independence, and unique place in this world in the form of the definite article "the wife and not "a wife".


In fact "my husband" may imply a domineered and hen pecked husband with no will of his own, meaning women are making advancement in their capacity for unparalleled evil. "My husband" also does not recognize any definite article such that the particular man in the woman's legal possession is generic , faceless and replaceable.

That is one of the most absurd things I have ever read. MY husband is used because the guy is MY husband. He's not anyone else's, he is married to ME. I am HIS wife. MY wife. MY husband.

[CSD610]

Originally Posted by ukiyo-e

Reading a post on C-D recently I was struck, again, by several men calling their wives "the wife." Saying "the wife did this or said that" reminds me of someone saying "the dog chewed up my shoes." I don't think I've ever heard a woman say "the husband." Usually it's "my husband."

Any thoughts on why this is? It seems a little, I don't know, distancing or alienating to me.

When my husband can't remember my name he just calls me: "O Wife O Mine".......

[Djuna]

Originally Posted by CSD610

When my husband can't remember my name he just calls me: "O Wife O Mine".......

I get "my lovely wife"...or he just calls me "woman"

[Snort]

The wife chewed up my shoes.

[srjth]

Originally Posted by ukiyo-e

Reading a post on C-D recently I was struck, again, by several men calling their wives "the wife." Saying "the wife did this or said that" reminds me of someone saying "the dog chewed up my shoes." I don't think I've ever heard a woman say "the husband." Usually it's "my husband."

Any thoughts on why this is? It seems a little, I don't know, distancing or alienating to me.

I don't see it that way but to each her own.