Quote:Sometimes a military spouse is not a wife; it's a husband.   So why should the law refer to "husband" or "wife" when under the law there is no difference?     This is the whole point of writing the laws in a gender-neutral way.   If the law refers to the "wife" what if the person is a husband and not a wife?  What then?   Is he out of luck because the law doesn't refer to husbands, only wives?  Why not call both husbands and wives "spouse?" 

In this case I was meaning that a military spouse doesn't like the word 'dependent' whether male or female. On most military paperwork the word dependent is used instead of spouse, husband or wife. And none of us like(d) it. And I personally don't like the idea of being a gender neutral spouse on some government papers when I am a female and a wife. I guess it's a personal thing for me. I guess it shouldn't be a big deal but I'm 43 years old and don't see the point. I'm at least halfway through my life and am set in my ways so...... I guess I'm an old fart and would prefer things to remain the same. Most old farts probably feel the same. 

---