Is he really your husband if you're not married?

[Linguere 0]

In some African countries, people can sometimes begin to call any man they see you continually with your husband out of respect, particularly in modest societies. I think it's very culturally based. Even with my own mother, a man is either your friend or he is your husband. So, he is your friend until he is your husband.

On another note, my husband's very close friends that he has grown up with are also my husbands and they call me their wife. Their wives are my wives. My very close friend who is like a brother to me (in Cameroon) is married and his wife is "my wife." She is called as such and when they have problems he is quick to say he has a problem with "my wife." Ultimately it means that the responsibility of taking care of each other is a shared one. It pays hommage to the communal lifestyle and it is through language that culture is transmitted.

[bora bora 1]

In some African countries, people can sometimes begin to call any man they see you continually with your husband out of respect, particularly in modest societies. I think it's very culturally based. Even with my own mother, a man is either your friend or he is your husband. So, he is your friend until he is your husband.

On another note, my husband's very close friends that he has grown up with are also my husbands and they call me their wife. Their wives are my wives. My very close friend who is like a brother to me (in Cameroon) is married and his wife is "my wife." She is called as such and when they have problems he is quick to say he has a problem with "my wife." Ultimately it means that the responsibility of taking care of each other is a shared one. It pays hommage to the communal lifestyle and it is through language that culture is transmitted.

I didn't know that....

Interesting.

[Kajikit 65]

'Boyfriend/girlfriend' is for teenagers... if you are an adult living in an adult relationship you have a PARTNER, a 'significant other', or a 'spouse'. And you can have a de-facto marriage if you live with someone for enough years as husband and wife even without going through the formal ceremony - at least in Australia you can!

[Sister Fracas 5]

'Boyfriend/girlfriend' is for teenagers... if you are an adult living in an adult relationship you have a PARTNER, a 'significant other', or a 'spouse'. And you can have a de-facto marriage if you live with someone for enough years as husband and wife even without going through the formal ceremony - at least in Australia you can!

And interestingly enough, in places that accept common law marriage, you have to go through a legal process to get out of the arrangement....so it's not just about being able to skip out whenever one's had enough...there's no common-law divorce.

Edited January 29, 2008 by Sister Fracas

[sj5 4]

you're allowed to say anywhere he/she is my spouse but not in court.

Edited January 29, 2008 by SJ

[JenT 0]

you're allowed to say anywhere he/she is my spouse but not in court.

not anywhere.... can't say it during a K1 interview.... unless you are intentionally seeking a denial.

[bora bora 1]

you're allowed to say anywhere he/she is my spouse but not in court.

not anywhere.... can't say it during a K1 interview.... unless you are intentionally seeking a denial.

True.

Although my husband and I called each other 'fiance' at the time of our interview we did wear rings on our left hand, so hubby took his off so they wouldn't think we were married.