Celebrating International Pronoun Day!!!
While pronouns as a part of speech are used to simplify communication and allow us to refer to a noun without repeating it. Personal pronouns unfortunately can come with a great deal of complications, for example many third person pronouns also imply the gender of the person they are referencing. Often these pronouns are assumed based on a person’s name or the gender norms for appearance. Furthermore the traditional singular pronouns in the English language tend to reinforce the binary notion of gender, though the use of “they” as a singular pronoun has been increasing, not only for those who use that personal pronoun, but also for situations when referring to a person whose gender is not known or relevant.
[Image depicts rainbow bordered circles reading “Ask me about my pronouns?!”]
When we use another person’s correct personal pronouns, we show them respect, and create an inclusive environment, just as using their name can be a way to show respect. Much like using a hurtful nickname is offensive or harassing an individual, refusing to respect and actively choosing to ignore a person’s stated personal pronouns, is also. Further actively ignoring a person’s pronouns can also reinforce the idea that intersex, transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people don’t or shouldn’t exist.
So singular first person pronouns are simple, those are the ones we use to refer to ourselves: I, me, my, mine, myself. Similarly singular second person pronouns are fairly straight forward: You, your, yours, yourself. But when it comes to third person singular pronouns we may need to learn as we go, here are some common third person singular pronouns, but this is far from an exhaustive list: She/her, he/him, they/them, xe/xem, ze/zir(hir), other neopronouns, or no pronouns - “use my name”. Some people will also use more than one set of pronouns, which typically will mean it’s okay to use any of the sets though this is not always the case. But it can be important to know that while a person may use a particular set of pronouns, those pronouns may or may not always match their gender identity.
[Image depicts various coloured spheres with different personal pronouns on them]
Questions to consider:
Do you struggle with remembering pronouns? What do you do if you accidentally mispronoun another? Or how do you react when someone mispronouns you or someone else?
What are some other ways we can use gender inclusive language? (For example when speaking to a group, greeting a stranger, etc.)
Tomorrow is Spirit Day, a day for supporting LGBTQ+ youth, and speaking out against bullying. There are signs that there has been an increase in bullying and non-acceptance particularly toward transgender and non-binary youth even just within the last year. What is one way we can stand up against these kinds of bullying?
Sources: https://pronouns.org/
https://www.glaad.org/spiritday#what
tagging the subcommunity taglist (if you want to be added/removed, click here!) @0OOXOO0z @0verth1nker8 @2019DOGS @22butterflies @3m1lywh3at0n @4Butterflies2Dragonflies @A2021203 @ablacklatinx @abpio @ace2929 @acesarrow @Adamjohns22 @adorableSky52 @affectionateHuman529 @agreeableEyesz @AHMED1998 @Aimee198 @AlexWilson @Alexx26 @AlexXxBlake @Alienoid @Alkina @ambitiousNorth1459 @AMusicalSilence @amusingCoconut @amusingCoconut5687 @AnastasiaSmith @anewdaydawning @angelbunnybby @anis2222 @anna5485 @anonym0815 @anshumanverma @Antthony101 @archerzvy @Arihaanth @Arnav012568 @Arsonbaby @Arthilio27 @Asheristired @athf4ever @Aubrey2018 @AveryLove @awalkintheforest @axolotladler @AzureWinter @badoinkitydoop @BaileeIsDaBomb @BaileyRomme @Banjothebudgie @Batman64546 @beautifulFireworks63 @Bendall6456 @Biamcc27 @bigirl06 @Blake790 @blissfulForest7074 @blithesoul64 @Bloog @blueAcai8991 @blueBeing7491 @blueCamp8059 @bluehouse2020 @Bob1144 @bobby15 @BookyCapri @boomboom1bakubro @bpanon0510 @bpate00 @bread4 @brendenjensen @brendenjnsn @BrooklynM @BubbleTea15 @BumbleBee1523 @CallmeKir @calmPine4337 @celestialnova @centremid @chaoticneutraldreamer @Charcoaldust @Charlielloyd11 @Charmingplum4444 @charpercharlie @CherryBlossom7717 @chronosrose @CindyIsNotOkay @Civciv1453 @CivilJay @Clouldystarz @Cloverrz @cocoafp191 @colorfulHeart78 @comfortingAngel @compassion4you14 @compassionateCreature2268 @compassionateThinker6493 @confidentialuser3322 @Confusedpear237 @considerateHeart21 @CoolRainboom @creativeLand811 @creativePenguin5165 @crimsonVillage5753 @Crismerlyn @cUsTaRdGiRl @cyanOrange9429 @dagaz13th @Daisymayes @DanceDanceMCRFOB @dapperThunderstorm17 @Davide @Dazzaboi @Deathdream13 @DebbieSapiosexual @DecayingPuppet @decisiveScarf8956 @Deerpark49 @delightfulBeauty9501 @DevinJG @Dinosaur @DinoSour @Dogbone17 @dreus1974 @DrowningWords @DylanletterR @dynamicSea7676 @easywest5007 @ElixirLove887 @ella2si @Elliot8Waugh @ElliotAnxiety27 @elxirr @EmiLou05 @EmmyKawaii @EnbyFreind @ErosLovely @ethanrsmith @FaboulousUnicornPotateo @fairmindedLychee7474 @fairmindedMap8489 @FantasyChapters @Fardec46 @Feirylesbian @FentonDnD @FeureVox @figFog @Flowerinthewind @FluffyHamster666 @forcefulStrawberries7963 @ForestFern12 @FranklyMaple @Frankpenny3679 @Gagaintheroom @galactictroubles @galacticwolfspirit @GayLisaSimpson @GeriatricWeasels @GlitteringNights @Gloomybubble @goldenbeach22 @GoldenDog9992 @Gr33nIvy @Grace8402 @Gracie815 @greatfulRainfall46 @GwennyGwenya @h9y43n @HadesAzander @HalliB23 @Harper5555555555 @HawkM @hazelhorizons @heavenshadow @helloLime5675 @helpfulSummer9270 @Heybecca96 @heyitsalli @HeyItsMish @hippylonglegs @HisokaChan @honest13 @Hyacinth22 @HydroTobo @i @IcarusFlew @Icean @Idk @Idk1405 @imaginativeSouth302 @Imkindawierd @ImpartialBirch1435 @impartialOwl3393 @imrose123 @IndecisiveClementine186 @InfinityPhoenix2001 @inolasnasadnarim @Insertnamehere45 @IntergalacticRaven @intuitivePond9315 @inventiveWalker6918 @iraismyname @ItsJustLauren @ItsReganingRain @ItzLeo @ivoryCircle1219 @IvyL @Ivywater @jammiedodgerrr @Jane27 @jayden173 @JaytheNinja @jazzyrainbow15 @Jisola @jKempy @jkwon @johnny77 @Josefina93 @jprouv @Julianna2 @justanotherpersonbehindascreen2 @Justmeforyou @KalleeSmith @Kashew11 @kasperkat @KateDoskocilova @Kay63 @KeiSocolov @KimByeongIn @kinchaxel @kindowl400 @KingdomKey1314 @KinkyTheSilentWitch @Kira09 @Kirahhhh @Kiraiki @Kittycatra13 @koopwei @Kou @Kpopcat2020 @Krish29 @kwheelz @LadyDair @laicrose @Lakomb @LanaSwift89 @Lasagna1 @lavenderTree2843 @Lazmaxwell @lazyfudge @Lazypotato786 @lemongrasstea07 @LeoSun4 @LeoTheLittleLoinCub @libra68 @lightMoon8193 @Lmarie1217 @LocaBella @Lol883 @lovewillspread @loyalBirch3538 @loyalThinker4958 @Luluintheroom @Luminescentknight @Luna7298 @lunareyes37 @LunaWolf222 @Lupinpollo @Luriner @lxveyoongi @Lynse6713 @lyricalAngel70 @MAB23 @Mae @MakisLp @mari123sg @MasterMoose93 @MedicatedSappho @MedicinalMelody @meltheowl @MiaT465 @Michael2027 @migelato30 @miraculousheart9815 @MisterPrincess316 @MomoDeMomo @Moodyson @Mooingcow1234 @mortalixty @MrJacob @MSFrost @musicgeek14 @MysterySpirit @NaeNae1517 @Naila2 @NamelessVamp @Nathalie00912 @navySea134 @Necas209 @NeonBlueButterfly @neonFarm9776 @neonxlilac @Nermie @NicoAce @nikkinik @nikolaiShadow @nonbinarycactus22 @NotFrostButAPoet @Notfrostbutpoet @NotKhan @Onedirection23 @optimisticAJ13 @osbella @ouwillbefound @owo123 @oyster7potato @PaganWarrior @Parvlakin @passionateApple7952 @PeaceLoveandPaws @peasantisactuallygod1617 @pepper2018 @persistentCircle1437 @Person12269 @Phillyriver @PhoenixAsh @PhoenixPatronus @Pinnae @pipandlivmania @pluckySouth5223 @PointlessExistence4982 @practicalIdeal2007 @Prettydays124 @PuffPride7 @Pumpkinpi @Purplebike7965 @Purpleflowerbud @purplesnail @quinton107 @Rainbovv @Rainbows3112 @RainyWithAWhy @Randall72 @Randie @raymaniii @rbfkun @rd1212 @RedApples667 @reliablePond8050 @renstilice @reservedPark5193 @resourcefulPond1641 @RJTransman @robyn420 @Roisin0 @Rosary @RoseTeaRabbit @royalRainbow1408 @rquote @Rubylistens22 @RustyNails @RyleighBr1anne @Ryth @Sadlonely90 @samantha5wales @Sanskruti29 @sapphicchloe @Saskianite @SassyVagrant @ScreenName34 @selfdisciplinedKitten6648 @SereneBreeze123 @shadow8817 @shadowling13 @Shaeeeee @Shorday15 @Skyash @SkylarListens @SlipperySlope0 @slytherinluvbot @Smolbean23 @Snapesnapeseverussnape @Sociablesky577 @sofiai9 @softRainbow9008 @Soleena @solidago @solsearchin @Sombrius @Someonelost @Someonlost @SomnolentLaelis @SparkyGizmo @spectacularEnergy60 @spiritwolf75 @spooderfaxy1987 @Stardew3 @stardust42 @stargazer45116 @Sthesia @stingray777 @StrawberryLemonade06 @stuckintime92 @Summerlove18976 @sunflower026 @sunflowerrs @SunnySideTrinket @sweetmango91 @sweetMelody95 @taescheek @TaylorAlise @taylorhugs12 @taylorjensen @Taylzasoldastime @Tealperson @The0Vetoed0System @TheAutumnWitch @theindigojournal @TheoRae8289 @TheQueerCollective @thoughtfulApple1359 @tidyHickory3283 @tigerlily249 @tinycactus809 @tranquilForever68 @TroubledWithLife @Trying15 @TryingTBH2021 @turquoiseHemlock900 @turquoiseLand8120 @turtle5678 @uzumaki6 @venusnity @veronikamalik @versatileLake2802 @vgranieri @vibiebb @vikingwolf802 @viktorija120 @wamayay07 @wannatalkaboutit @warmheartedCity8277 @werenotgonnatakeit @WhoIAM2you @willpowered17 @WonderfulHart1330 @wonderfulMango5023 @worldwidejinn @Xaixu @xDarkNigxtmare0981x @xinyii11 @XwonderlandgirlX @xxharleyxx @Yavmarcus @YellowCanary11 @yellowdragon028 @YinYinChan @yourbuddy30 @yournewfriend13 @zenona5 @ZhaviaMachete
@EmotionsListener
Whatta great post, Thanks for sharing, Emotions. ❤
I try my best to not assume pronouns or misgender anyone accidentally even, I typically opt for a "they/ them" when I am absolutely not aware of someone's pronouns, or easy to go with the (user)name itself at such times too, entirely skipping the confusion heh.
Other times it is okay and great to ask the person about their preferred pronouns. Going with the simple notion of "Ask, don't assume".
It is normal and valid to have slip ups at times, we are all human heh, far from perfect. But it is how we make amends after that matters more, so if sometime it may happen that I accidentally make slip up, I apologize sincerely and ask them about their preferance, and then be mindful of using the same in future interactions.
I like how many people here mention their pronouns in their bio, it is quite helpful, specially for those that avoid getting misrepresented, and reasonably so. So I try to look for the same in bios of new people I encounter here hehe, like an indirect way of asking them lol. :D
Very much open to more tips on this, it's good to keep learning, and becoming a better, more understanding, accommodating, acknowledging and accepting hooman bean.❤
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou
Thank you for joining in the discussion!
Opting for "they/them" as a default can be an easy way to avoid a lot of hurt feelings and difficult moments. I know I myself often use "they/them" in general, like even if I speak about someone unless their pronoun is relevant to the topic I often find myself using 'they/them' in reference to them. Another one that I find helpful is using a person's full name, this can also avoid pronoun confusion.
It can be useful as you say to list pronouns in our bio if we would like, but it would be nice if they were easier to communicate where it requires no effort on the other party to check our bio.
Even with some of my friends offline, who have shifting pronouns, often have ways they signal which they are identifying as at any given time so that we don't always have to ask, and they don't always have to shout it from the rooftops. Sort of their own secret code.
Keep up the good work you hooman bean!
@EmotionsListener
This will light up a lot more faces than just mine. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, it's really important that people use the correct pronouns for us.
We automatically develop so much respect and affection for someone who starts the conversation with "Can I know your pronouns?"
Lots of love 💜
@KimByeongIn
Glad that this was able to light up your face, and I do hope that others will benefit from it as well. It is often such a small ask for such a big pay off.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
