BOOK REVIEW | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 35
April, 2020 | ISSUE 310 | Qsaltlake.com
the bookworm sez What’s Your Pronoun? Beyond He & She REVIEW BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER BY DENNIS BARON (HE / HIM / HIS) C. 2020, LIVERIGHT, $25.95 / 304 PAGES
Words can never hurt you. Even as a child, that last half of the retort to playground taunts never made sense to you. Of course, sticks and stones broke bones but even then, you knew that there’s no sharper weapon than a word said in anger or misunderstanding. In the new book “What’s Your Pronoun?” by Dennis Baron, you’ll see that some of those weapons go way back. Language is a funny thing. Words hurt, they sooth, and in today’s world, a “pronoun
q scopes APRIL BY SAM KELLEY-MILLS
ARIES March 20–April 19
No one is coming to save you so take matters into your own hands. The longer you pamper yourself, the better you will feel. Take a chance with a new friend or rekindle an old friendship that has fallen through the cracks. Enjoy your alone time but don’t take the whole world for granted.
TAURUS Apr 20–May 20
Adopt a new hobby or join a club that suits your fancy. Everything you’ve wanted is possible but you have to work for it. The big surprise is how easy the work can be when interest exists. A business or work matter is driving you nuts so pay attention to your mental health. Clear your mind and heart.
GEMINI May 21–June 20
It’s not easy being you sometimes, but it’s just as difficult dealing with others. An associate or family member is being a nag lately so be sure to stand up for yourself. The
without sex is… sexy.” We ask ourselves, and others, which ones to use as “an invitation to declare, to honor, or to reject, not just a pronoun, but a gender identity.” Generally, though, and until relatively recently, “he” was the default pronoun used by many to indicate both masculine and undeclared gender. As far back as 1792, neutral “he” was thought to be confusing, however; one writer even suggested that “one” might work better than “he” to indicate gender neutral. “They” was brought up for consideration in 1794. A century later, and with mostly men controlling law and business, “he” was firmly the pronoun of choice, and it had become politicized; when women protested that “he” clearly didn’t include them, lawmakers stated that “he” also implied “she.” Women countered that if “he” could hold office, then it was implied that “she” could, too, and, well,
you can imagine the arguments — not to mention the injustice of three masculine pronouns (he, his, him) but just two for the feminine (she, her)! Oh, the scandal of it all! Through the decades, other words have been suggested (zie, hir, thon) to indicate gender-neutral or unknown but none have seemed to stick. Many felt that there simply was no good way to signify neither male or female, or a separation of gender-neutral and nonbinary, and some bemoaned the lack of a “missing word” that was easily understandable. Says Baron, though, in sifting through the possibilities, we’ve had the word all along… Sometimes, as author Dennis Baron points out in his introduction, people today offer their preferred pronoun without being asked, so ubiquitous is the question. Still, we sometimes struggle with the right word, but in “What’s Your Pronoun?” he offers a
best kind of defense is a good attitude. Things do have to blow once in a while so be sure to aim your explosions strategically.
to tag along with someone who can help with the good times. It is time to lighten up.
CANCER June 21–July 22
Jitters are normal when dealing with someone you really like. Channel that energy into showing this person how you feel and a good development might come as a result. It could be a game-changer in how you live life. You might find your desires are based more on imagination than reality.
LEO July 23–August 22
Work and business matters don’t always provide a boost to your ego. When things aren’t going your way, it serves to remind how much you want to matter. Be a shining example to others and appreciation will follow. Finding a good way to show off what you can do will provide nice growth.
VIRGO August 23–Sep. 2 A little dark space in your heart seems to be growing. Find something that provides a safe haven of joy in the form of activity or fun. A circle of friends will be there for you but it requires a request. Don’t be afraid
LIBRA Sept 23–October 22
solution of which readers may be skeptical. First, though, it’s true that this etymological history is a good read, especially for word nerds. It’s not college-lecture level; Baron writes with a lighter hand and doesn’t preach, and the occasional threads that spring from the stories here are explored appropriately and in an inviting way that displays no drudgery. It’s like sitting down at a workshop you’ve eagerly anticipated, and being more delighted than you hoped you’d be. And yet, there is such a thing as information overload, and the obvious solution isn’t so obvious. Proof is at the end of the book, in which we see more than two centuries of verbal wrangling. So: em, thon, zier, they? We haven’t heard the end of it, but maybe we’re close; certainly, reading “What’s Your Pronoun?” couldn’t hurt. Q for a while. Do the best and life can be quite rewarding.
CAPRICORN Dec 21–Jan 19
The struggle is real in terms of a personal matter. Desires have you on edge and it’s time to really make a choice regarding a relationship matter. Someone you love is feeling neglected but a little bit of attention will go a long way. Find a way to balance everything you want and harmony will follow.
Dive deep into a mindset that makes a difference. A newfound love for intimacy is bound to open some other ideas. Be creative and make some great projects come to life. While it might seem like a long time coming, it’s never too late to start over. The best way to reinvent yourself is to create.
SCORPIO Oct. 23–Nov. 21
Get your finances in order and don’t spend time or money on people who don’t deserve it. While it might be a good feeling to give, receiving can be equally as rewarding. Find a way to have your cake and eat it too. In the end, learning how to be grateful is a lesson in being truly versatile.
Being practical is something for other people. Or so you might believe. In truth, having a clear set of rules is very important to you, and finding out what works would be a good idea. A new set of challenges will test your patience. Don’t be afraid to teach others how to treat you right now.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov. 22–December 20.
Keep clear of a conflict that doesn’t concern you. A couple or group may try to rope you in, but you should stay on the sidelines until the dust clears. A goal you are hoping to accomplish should be the focus, especially if you’ve had it on your mind
AQUARIUS Jan. 20–Feb. 18
PISCES Feb 19–Mar 19
What is actually happening with a confusing personal matter could become clear this month. The need to control everything is not the main goal, but the clarity will provide much-needed comfort. Take this newfound freedom and get yourself into a position of power. Good change is coming soon. Q
