Tabitha King Is More Than Just “Stephen King’s Wife,” Thank You Very Much
Mrs. King is a noted author and philanthropist.
Stephen King and his wife, Tabitha King, have made headlines for donating $1.25 million to the New England Historic Genealogical Society. This is great, of course, as the King family has a generous history of philanthropy. But in a frustrating turn of events, news headlines everywhere have been referring to Tabitha as solely King’s “wife.”
This is a dated and insulting custom that often befalls the spouses of famous people. Never mind that Tabitha King is a published author and an award-winning philanthropist. She is her own self, a woman with a name apart from her husband of 38 years. She deserves better than just “wife.”
Stephen King and Tabitha took to Twitter to discuss:
My wife is rightly pissed by headlines like this: “Stephen King and his wife donate $1.25M to New England Historic Genealogical Society.” The gift was her original idea, and she has a name: TABITHA KING. Her response follows.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 28, 2019
Dear Editors (married to a wife or a husband):
In recent media coverage of a gift that my husband (ironic usage) and I made to the New England Historical and Genealogical Society, we became Stephen King and his wife.
Wife is a relationship or status. It is not an identity.— Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 28, 2019
You could have made other choices. You could have referred to me as OfStephen. Or His Old Lady. Or His-Ball-And-Chain.
I have sons. You could have referred to me as Mother-of-Novelists. I have a daughter but wouldn’t it be just silly to refer to me as Mother-of-Clergy?— Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 28, 2019
I’m seventy. I thought I would give you permission, if “OfTabitha” predeceases me, to title my obituary, Relick of Stephen King.
In the meantime, you might consider the unconscious condescension in your style book, and give women their names.— Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 28, 2019
Tabitha’s response is bitingly funny, and calls out the absurdity of the headline. Many people took to Twitter in support of Tabitha:
And just like that I’m in love with Tabitha King… https://t.co/TlPtgiYCg7
— Dani Kind (@DaniKind) February 28, 2019
i love this post by Tabitha King’s husband. https://t.co/qIvynCuYbe
— Connie Schultz (@ConnieSchultz) February 28, 2019
Tabitha King’s rant via her husband’s twitter account is just the jab at patriarchy the world needs. And I love Stephen King, but referencing him as her husband is just the right thing to do under these circumstances. lol https://t.co/iEynOVN7VH
— PeeCeeAch (@PaulaChase) February 28, 2019
Has everyone seen this badass screed by my talented and well-published mother-in-law, Tabitha King? (Looking at you, @AP, @APStylebook, and any other news source in the habit of erasing women.) https://t.co/HTspB41iER
— Kelly Braffet (@KellyBraffet) February 28, 2019
Tabitha King donates 1.25M to New England Historic Genealogical Society. Mrs. King lives with a small dog and a husband.
— Martin Tiller (@mctiller) February 28, 2019
Tabitha King and that weird dude she lives with donate $1.25 Million to New England Historic Genealogical Society#FixedIt https://t.co/5iJGibDCPb
— Liquid_atheist (@Liquid_atheist) February 28, 2019
(via Twitter, image: screencap)
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