power in
Transparency regarding pronouns should be encouraged, but not required.
I
t’s time to change the narrative.
A new change
Pronouns are the words one uses to refer to someone in the third person. It has become common practice for people to share their pronouns on name tags and in introductions, email signatures and Instagram ‘bios.’
The problem
It’s not common enough. Often, when speaking of someone in third person, one will use gender-implied pronouns, such as he/him and she/ her, which are generally associated with masculine and feminine appearances and names respectively. Sometimes, these assumptions can be incorrect. Pronouns are not always representative of one’s gender identity. Some may use specific pronouns, such as gender-neutral pronouns like ze/hir and they/them, and others may use any or none at all. Incorrect assumption of gender identity based on expression can bring discomfort, induce or trigger gender dysphoria and negatively affect mental health.
What needs to happen
It’s time to normalize asking others for their pronouns, even if you believe you’re sure. If one is introducing themself by name, if comfortable, their next sentence should acknowledge their pronouns. Taking this extra step during conversations will create a more welcoming environment for others to disclose their pronouns. Moreover, cisgender people—whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth— have the unique opportunity to create a more comfortable environment for non-cisgender people by normalizing giving and asking for pronouns. But what should one do when they’re speaking of someone and can’t recall their pronouns? The best practice is to use their proper name, and if unavoidable, use gender-neutral pronouns. According to a 2018 Pew Research Center study, 27% of adults said that they would be ‘very’ comfortable using a gender-neutral pronoun to refer to someone if asked to do so, 25% said they would be ‘somewhat’ comfortable, and the rest said they would be either ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ uncomfortable using gender-neutral pronouns. While gender-neutral
