Lgbtq and pronouns
What&#;s a pronoun?
You may be unfamiliar with the synonyms &#;pronoun,&#; but you apply them all the time! Pronouns are used in place of a proper noun (like someone&#;s name). We use pronouns most often when referring to someone without using their name.
Example: Have you heard from Tom? He hasn&#;t texted me back all day. He is the pronoun.
Why does it matter?
In English, our most commonly used pronouns (he/she) specifically refer to a person&#;s gender. For queer, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people, these pronouns may not fit, can design discomfort, and can bring about stress and anxiety.
A recent study showed that in transgender youth, using flawless pronouns and names reduces depression and suicide risks.
Having trouble understanding why this would upset someone? Ponder about your pronoun (it&#;s probably &#;he&#; or &#;she&#;). Now imagine someone calling you the one you don&#;t think of yourself as. Imagine them doing it over and over and over, even after you&#;ve corrected them.
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Gender Identity, Chosen Name, and Pronouns
Gender identity, chosen names, and pronouns are forms of self-determination, self-expression, and self-affirmation for the LGBTQIA+ community. This page provides an overview of each, how to back the community, and how to name your pronouns in University-owned products.
Gender Identity
What is Gender Identity?
One's innermost concept of self as male, female, a merge of both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One's gender identity can be the identical or different from their sex assigned at birth. A person expresses their gender identity through action, clothing, haircut or voice, and which may or may not conform to socially defined behaviors and characteristics typically associated with entity either masculine or feminine.
A person that identifies as masculine or feminine is considered binary. A person that identifies themselves as a blend of both or not of either is acknowledged as non-binary.
Using Gender-Neutral Language in Groups
When addressing groups of people or p
Pronouns & Inclusive Language
Below is a brief overview of pronouns and inclusive language. This is by no means an exhaustive guide to treating trans people equitably.
What are pronouns?
Pronouns are linguistic tools that we use to refer to people (, she/her/hers, he/him/his). We believe that it is important to give people the opportunity to state the pronoun that is correct to use when referring to them.
Pronouns are integral to who we are, and we share pronouns because we want to dodge assuming someone's pronouns based on factors like appearance. By sharing our own pronouns routinely, we inspire others to do the similar and demonstrate that we grasp the importance of sharing pronouns. Using someone’s correct pronouns is an important way of affirming someone’s identity and is a fundamental step in being an ally.
Common pronouns include she/her/hers, he/him/his, and they/them/theirs. There are other nonbinary pronouns. It is important to ask people what their pronouns are. If you have questions, politely ask the person if they feel comfortable givin
Pronouns
A Guide to Pronoun Usage
What are pronouns?
Pronouns are used to refer to someone, and usually transmit information about someone’s gender. For example, if we say, “I wonder if she knows she left her water bottle in the classroom,” we would assume the person identifies as a woman.
Why are pronouns important and what is misgendering?
Because pronouns point out gender, and people often assume gender based on someone’s appearance, we sometimes use the incorrect fix of pronouns. When we use a set of pronouns that indicate the wrong gender, that is known as misgendering someone. For example, we might say “he,” when the person uses “she,” or we might say “hers” instead of “theirs.” When this happens to a transgender person it can be unsettling, invalidating, and dehumanizing. If it happens over and over, or is being done on purpose or maliciously, it is an act of oppression against trans people.
What if I am organism misgendered?
The University supports non-binary and nonbinary identities and has policies in place to address misgendering. The Pride Office c