5.6: Gender Pronouns
Pronoun usage also plays a role in a person’s gender identity. If you’ve ever been misgendered, you probably reacted in some way. Because language is a big part of how we make sense of ourselves, the pronouns we use when referring to ourselves represent who we are. Pronouns are used in place of proper nouns, such as a name, during daily conversations. In many languages, including English, pronouns are gendered. That is, pronouns are intended to identify the gender of the individual being referenced. English has traditionally been binary, providing only “he/him/his” for male subjects, and “she/her/hers” for female subjects.
This binary system excludes those who identify as neither male nor female. The word “they,” which was used for hundreds of years as a singular pronoun, is more inclusive. In 2019, Merriam Webster selected this use of “they” as Word of the Year.
“They” and other neopronouns [xe/xem/xry/xrys, ze/hir/hirs/hirself, etc.] are now used to reference those who align more closely to something other than he/him or she/her male or female. Making an assumption about someone's gender sends a potentially detrimental message: that people must appear and behave a certain way to demonstrate their gender identity. By using someone’s correct pronouns, you are creating an inclusive environment and respecting them (What and Why, n.d.). Today, there are many institutions normalizing the practice of gender pronoun neutrality and pronoun sharing in introductory settings, on email signatures and other spaces. For example, on the online school platform, Canvas , students and professors have a space to enter their pronouns that then appear next to their name. In the occupational field, sites like Zoom and LinkedIn offer a place to share one’s pronouns.