I was really happy to see that the game has updated the language for romantic relationships to default to the gender neutral "partner" and "spouse." I think having the game default to these terms is a great step in making the game more inclusive! But I wish there were toggles in CAS to bring back the old labels, similar to how all sims default to bi/pansexual but you can set their sexuality in CAS. A lot of queer people fought hard to call the person they love their boyfriend or wife, and I just think it would be even more inclusive to have options, rather than to remove options. I certainly prefer this language change because it's much better for my non-binary sims in romantic relationships, but I just wish this was an area with more player customization! I hope the sims team considers adding these options back in at some point. Maybe to CAS? Maybe to sim profiles under the simology tab?

agreed. I love that they have that option now for those who use neutral terms in their own relationships, however, it disregards those that actively refer to their loved ones as husband/wife/bf/gf/etc in their everyday lives. It was created to incorporate inclusivity, yet somehow became less inclusive by doing so. making this feature toggleable or so that it is atleast applied in cases where gender neutral terms ARE used would be great. until then, its not fair to completely revoke one groups preferences to give the others theirs. Instead, a good company would be able to include all, not limit to some.

@natalier98 I particular dislike the word partner for Teens. I know of zero teens that would dream of using that instead of girlfriend boyfriend regardless of their sexual observation. Some of them will likely feel insulted by having to use partner.

Yeah it was kind of wierd when they used the word inclusive yet removed the other labels entirely. Thats not being very inclusive

I want to weigh in on this. I like the gender neutral alternatives, but why did the old ones need to be nuked to make way for that? It makes the game feel less inclusive by forcing a certain language, because as the OP stated, these labels are very important to some people. It was not too long ago when gay people couldn't be husband and wife, and there are still many countries where same sex marriage is forbidden and illegal. Those people deserve to be seen and represent themselves in the game too. Perhaps in a future update we could have the option to be husband/wife etc again, even if the gender neutral option would remain as default?Edit: Obviously straight couples deserve to keep their labels too, I don't mean to erase them. It's just that I am lesbian and my mind went instantly to "NO MA WIFE!"

I agree.I think the best solution would be to include terms like this in the same panel as pronouns so that we can select how each sim wants to be referred to.Even just a drop down with "boyfriend/girlfriend/partner" would be a massive improvement. I'd also like to see this added for Parent and Sibling terms, while they're at it.

Making "spouse" and "partner" labels toggleable in CAS

41 Replies

DonPaxis
2 years ago
@batmansxrobin I just opened a similar topic re gendering of family relationship bits before realising it was sort of covered here, do you mind if I reference your suggestion in my (empty) thread?
batmansxrobin
2 years ago
Sure, go for it! 🙂
NooraraKitty
Seasoned Newcomer
2 years ago
@natalier98 I totally agree. I really miss girlfriend/wife etc. It makes game feel distant and not so personal if relationships terms are erased to have only neutral ones. Ofc neutral ones are important but like everyone else has said people have fought for those rights to call husband/wife and those terms are really important to people. So I really really hope they add them back quickly.
Rubykat
2 years ago
I really hope if they do make the labels an option, they don't keep it locked behind a paywall. I saw that in Lovestruck you're able to set a custom relationship label and it's really disappointing that the feature is exclusive to the pack. I shouldn't have to pay money just so I can call my sims husband/wife or bf/gf—something that USED TO BE FREE. Taking away gendered terms isn't inclusive. ☹️
SailorNamek
Seasoned Traveler
2 years ago
Mhm, yeah turns out this whole petition can be thrown in the trash. We can have our labels back by PAYING 40 DOLLARS FOR THEM! Lovely that they take away a feature and put it behind a paywall. So if you're on PC, either pay up or get a mod, they ain't never giving back the old terms - not when they can charge us money for them. If you're on console, you pulled the short stick as per usual, no free mod for you.
So much for 'inclusivity' mattering a damn, it was always a way to push sales. I hate it here.
jpkarlsen
Hero (Retired)
2 years ago
@Rubykat @SailorNamek
It does not mean you can call them wife. You can choose between Spouse, Engaged, Partner and Sister for females and likewise for males.
@SailorNamek
You really should not jump to conclusions like that. Especially not when it leads to you posting false information.
CleverSugar05
Rising Rookie
2 years ago
@natalier98 I feel like the move was an attempt to be inclusive, but making non gendered terms mandatory for everyone was actually more of a step back than a step forward. I'm a lesbian and I personally would never call a girlfriend a "partner" because I feel that gender neutral language would erase an essential part of who me and that girlfriend are. We're women or feminine people who love other women or feminine people. I have no problem with gender neutral titles being an option but I absolutely hate that it's now mandatory and I feel like a big part of the LGBTQ+ community has been slighted.
SirenSong279
2 years ago
First of all, who are you to tell us what language we should use?
With the patch dated 7/23/2024 you changed the language for Sims’ relationships and forced on us entirely neutral terms.
We should be allowed to choose what terms each player wants in their game. Was it truly so difficult to implement it simply as an additional option?
Husband / Wife / Spouse
Fiancé / Fiancée / Engaged
Boyfriend / Girlfriend / Partner
rjssim
Seasoned Ace
2 years ago
@SirenSong279 Well, this is disappointing. I really do hope they make it optional.
bunnymoonvii
2 years ago
The simple fact is they tried to be "inclusive" in the laziest way possible. If the Sims 4 wants to be seen as an Inclusive game, they need to put actual effort into doing it.
More options are always better than less. There are countless LGBT people who WANT to be called someone's husband, or wife, and forcing an M/M or F/F couple to just be "spouses" instead, frankly, offensive.

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Making "spouse" and "partner" labels toggleable in CAS

41 Replies

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