Beyond Someone's Wifey, Why Media's Terminology Shapes Celebrity Identities

Back in my college days, I faced this thing where everyone just knew me as my boyfriend's (now ex) girlfriend. It wasn't exactly flattering. I mean, it's not like we were less serious or anything, but being reduced to just that label felt unfair. We were both our own people, mingling in the same circles and getting equal love from everyone. So why stick with someone else's identity?

In college, it felt limiting but zooming out, women have faced this for ages. Labels like "his wife," "his GF," "his BFF," or "his mother" have followed us. And it's not just women; men get labelled too, but earlier it was just those nosey relatives or neighbours; however, now even our media is joining in. They stick celebrity couples with these marital tags, sidelining their individuality, careers, and credibility as if those labels overshadow everything else.

Despite knowing that millions will read their words, they still choose to introduce a successful actor merely as someone's husband or a thriving model as someone's girlfriend. While terms like "husband", "wife"  "spouse" still make some sense, referring to individuals in the media by terms like "wifey" or "hubby" seems belittling. It undermines their professional accomplishments and personal identities.

Beyond Labels: How Media's Terminology Shapes Celebrity Identities

Giorgia Andriani, who previously dated Arbaaz Khan, recently confirmed their breakup. Expressing her discomfort, she finds it demeaning to be referred to solely as "someone's girlfriend." In an interview with Pinkvilla, the model-actor voiced her discontent, stating that being labelled based on a relationship undermines her personal journey, struggles, and personal achievements. 

She said, "I do find it demeaning for someone's personality to be addressed as someone's girlfriend, or someone's boyfriend or someone's something. I find it very demeaning. I have lived my life, till now all my struggles, all my work, all my preparations...my evolution to become what I am now to be called 'somebody's girlfriend'. I definitely find it very demeaning. I wish not to be called that anymore."

Today on your social media, if you check your feed, you'll see a bunch of posts that are meaningless, mindless, and that did not take more than 2 minutes to write and post, whether it be "hubby holding wifey's hand," "lovebirds seen at the airport," or just someone waving at paparazzi, but we enjoy it.

We all enjoy these posts, and hence it has become a world where everything turns into content, and that content becomes super important. But shouldn't media outlets focus more on highlighting celebrities' individual achievements than their relationship statuses? Shouldn't the media use such terminology thoughtfully, considering its impact on the public's perception of these individuals? 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pinkvilla (@pinkvilla)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)

How we perceive such terms can sometimes overshadow these celebrities' individual achievements, identities, and personalities. It can make it seem as though their entire existence revolves around their relationship or their partner's fame rather than their own accomplishments or individual characteristics.

This kind of portrayal might diminish the recognition of their own talents, careers, or contributions to their respective fields. It is respectful to acknowledge and respect their identity and accomplishments, independent of their relationships or connections in the industry.

Views expressed by the author are their own