Girlfriend

From ArticleWorld

While it cannot be denied that the term girlfriend implies an intimate relationship, the use of the word can vary greatly.

Who uses the word?

Heterosexual women use the term when describing a very close female friend. The use of the word in this sense has no sexual or romantic implication.

However, when a heterosexual male or a lesbian or bisexual woman refers to a girl or woman as a girlfriend, it consistently is a way of referring to a woman involved in a romantic or sexual relationship. The term implies a level of commitment and seriousness. Boyfriend is the equivalent male term. These two words – girlfriend or boyfriend – are used to describe courtship outside of marriage. Other acceptable, more “politically correct,” terms include female friend, ladyfriend or womanfriend. Couples also refer to each other in gender-neutral terms such as significant other or partner; these are usually reserved for long-term relationships or use by older couples in a relationship. These two words face an advantage in that they in no way imply the current status of a relationship, nor do they disclose the sexual orientation of the speaker.

Other uses of “girlfriend”

Gay male friends often use the term girlfriend (in the first non-sexual sense of the word) as a term of endearment. This stems from the common perception of gay men and boys as girls. Straight men in the Western world have also been known to use this term in a mocking or nonserious manner, either toward their heterosexual friends or to gay men as in a derogatory use.

In Japan, the term girlfriend has no romantic connotations and is used by men or women (or boys or girls) to describe any female friend. The proper way to refer to one’s female romantic partner, in Japan, is kanojo.