Elopements

/ɪˈloʊpmənts/ noun

Definition

Multiple instances of couples secretly running away to get married.

Etymology

Plural of 'elopement,' formed by adding the standard English plural '-s'.

Kelly Says

The plural form reminds us that elopements were common enough in history that people discussed them as a category—Las Vegas has basically turned elopements into a business model!

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Plural form carries the same gendered historical baggage as singular: women portrayed as the primary agents of scandal or rebellion, their choices pathologized while men's were normalized.

Inclusive Usage

Apply same care as 'elopement'—avoid narrative framing that centers female transgression over mutual agency.

Inclusive Alternatives

["secret marriages","clandestine unions"]

Empowerment Note

Recognize women's elopements as acts of autonomy, not primarily as scandals or betrayals of family.

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