In today’s society, finding out someone’s pronouns is an important part of getting to know them. Some popular pronouns people may see are ‘she/her,’ ‘he/him’ or ‘they/them.’ To some this may not seem like a big deal, but it really is a very important part of our everyday life. Just by using the correct pronouns for someone shows that we respect who they are and who they have chosen to be.
While most people still use the pronouns that were assigned to them at birth, there are some that find it crucial to identify with something else. While it may not be plainly stated at the bottom of an email, there are clues for everyone to look for.
- Listen to how each person speaks about themselves. They may not be noticeable but listening is one of our best ways to find out.
- Still unsure? Just ask, many people understand that this is a new way of expressing oneself.
Knowing how to communicate with our professors, classmates, and friends and family is a way to show them that they matter.
Here are how to use these:
- She/Her/Hers/Herself – Identifies as female.
- He/Him/His/Himself – Identifies as male.
- They/Them/Their/Themself – Can be used singular if chosen, and is the more gender neutral option.
- Name – Some prefer not to use pronouns at all so just use their names.
- Ze/Zie/Xe – This is normally used for places that do not have a gender neutral word in their own language.
Sara Collins
Staff Reporter