I believe that women who shun titles face the same challenges. Finally, deciding that you're "boyfriend-girlfriend" means deciding on the mechanics of a relationship. You're no longer "friends with benefits" or "casually dating," which is a significant increase in intensity.
Now, what does it mean to be called a "girlfriend"? This is where things can get confusing because there are as many ways to answer this question as there are girls and boys in high school. However, I will try to give you an idea of how others view these roles.
If a girl calls herself your "girlfriend," she is saying that you are someone that she has relationships with, even if they are just verbal agreements. She is not trying to put you down by calling yourself his "boyfriend"; instead, she is showing that she believes you two have something special together.
On the other hand, if a boy calls himself your "boyfriend," he is saying that you are someone that he spends time with and has sexual relations with. He is not trying to make you feel bad about yourself by calling himself your "boyfriend"; instead, he is telling everyone around him that he believes that you two would make a good match.
I never use the words "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" because I believe it places the relationship within societal expectations of gender roles, which I do not want—but on the rare occasion when I don't want questions and don't want to give too much insight to the people I'm talking to (some work situations), I do use "boyfriend" or "girlfriend."
There are times when I have used the word "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" in a conversation, but I usually say it after someone else has asked me if we're a couple. When I say it myself, I usually mean that we're just good friends who happen to be boyfriend-and-girfriend.
I like using the word "friend" because it does not define our relationship by any means. It simply says that we share an intimacy beyond what most people experience with just one another but without necessarily calling it anything other than a friendly interaction.
Some trans men may choose to be called "partner" or some other term instead, such as "spouse," but this is up to them. Some trans women may also choose to be called "partner" or some other term instead, such as "husband" or "wife," but this is up to them as well. The point is that there is no right or wrong way to refer to your partner, as long as you both feel comfortable with how you label yourselves.
In general, you should use the phrases "boyfriend" and "girlfriend" only when you have become an official pair and both parties agree on what the future may bring. Those terms indicate a devoted partnership. They are used to describe someone with whom you share your life experiences - especially if you live together or plan to do so. The person must also be willing to share your time with you.
The words "boyfriend" and "girlfriend" are commonly used in everyday language but they can be inappropriate for some situations. For example, if you are in a religious organization such as Islam, then it is not appropriate to use the word "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" because this implies that one party is above the other. Instead, these groups usually refer to their partners as "fiancé(e)" or "spouse."
Finally, don't use the words "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" with people who you just meet because this relationship isn't official yet. You should let them know explicitly that you are together by using those words or else they might take it the wrong way.
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