A Married Woman Is Not Always a Wife: Relationship Terms Used by Married Lesbians

• In Event: 491 - Regular Session. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender

Abstract

This study investigates the use of relationship terms by married lesbians at a historical juncture where the long-standing definition of marriage is undergoing a sociocultural renegotiation across the United States. At this point in time in U. S. cultural history, when same-sex marriage is rapidly gaining acceptance, this research demonstrates the complexity of the use of the term wife and its alternates, such as partner or spouse, by married lesbians and shows how the use of certain relationship terms is tied to a variety of contextual factors that shape the identities of married lesbians. The data convincingly demonstrates both how the use of relationship terms is evolving and reveals the complexity of language use across social situations. Despite the positive trend toward eventual widespread acceptance of same-sex marriage, rejection and prejudice exists, and gender identity is complex. The study relies on analysis of both quantitative data from over 200 survey respondents and qualitative analysis based on grounded theory from interviews with 20 married lesbian couples of varying ages. Because Massachusetts was the first state to fully legalize same-sex marriage, the interviews and most of the surveys are from those living in Massachusetts. The data reveal that, even after more than 10 years of legal same-sex marriage, the use of the language associated with marriage is still fraught with complexity and burdened by the social and historical acceptance of gays and lesbians as part of the social fabric.

Authors

• Patricia J. Ould, Salem State University

• Julie Whitlow, Salem State University