As a female often deals with male counterparts, I never cease to marvel at how men have a tendency to say "I" or "my", when in fact they are married, have 5 children and 3 mistresses. When this happens, I tend to ask "and did your wife enjoy it as well?"
This made me laugh a lot! Although I do wonder if one day I'll turn into one of those men (minus the three mistresses...)... force of bachelorette habit!
I adored this! When somebody asks me how I am at the moment I keep saying ‘we’re ok’ referring to me and my baby and toddler. Where has this come from?! 🤯
Thanks for this there’s a lot to consider especially my own use of “we” sometimes regarding what my husband and I are up to. Even though I’ve been in this relationship for eight years, I still always identify with people not in relationships because I was single for most of my life--I didn’t meet my husband until I was 48. I want to be sensitive to how language might land with others people.
Thankyou, I really resonate with this discussion. I find it an empowering perspective to see the terms/states as not one or the other, but both, with 'I' as a non-negotiable.
I did a MSc in Social Research Methods which included discourse analysis a few years ago. It took a while for things to sink into my grey cells. But it often gets me thinking about the power of discourse of all kinds. You article shows the power of words in discourse. I am now an I and I agree it can difficult to shake the we off and everything that goes with it. You are also right it is not just about partners. I’ll stop rambling on x
As a female often deals with male counterparts, I never cease to marvel at how men have a tendency to say "I" or "my", when in fact they are married, have 5 children and 3 mistresses. When this happens, I tend to ask "and did your wife enjoy it as well?"
This made me laugh a lot! Although I do wonder if one day I'll turn into one of those men (minus the three mistresses...)... force of bachelorette habit!
I adored this! When somebody asks me how I am at the moment I keep saying ‘we’re ok’ referring to me and my baby and toddler. Where has this come from?! 🤯
Ahaha! This is super interesting, and makes SO much sense... especially when you've grown the two of them inside you!
Thanks for this there’s a lot to consider especially my own use of “we” sometimes regarding what my husband and I are up to. Even though I’ve been in this relationship for eight years, I still always identify with people not in relationships because I was single for most of my life--I didn’t meet my husband until I was 48. I want to be sensitive to how language might land with others people.
Thankyou, I really resonate with this discussion. I find it an empowering perspective to see the terms/states as not one or the other, but both, with 'I' as a non-negotiable.
Great article, got me thinking about the importance of discourse analysis. Anorak time, the vivid images one or two letter words create.
Thanks, Jo! Anorak time? Consider me intrigued – please say more!
I did a MSc in Social Research Methods which included discourse analysis a few years ago. It took a while for things to sink into my grey cells. But it often gets me thinking about the power of discourse of all kinds. You article shows the power of words in discourse. I am now an I and I agree it can difficult to shake the we off and everything that goes with it. You are also right it is not just about partners. I’ll stop rambling on x
Great piece
Thanks, Sian! So glad it resonated.