Personal Pronouns
What is a pronoun?
- The main function of a pronoun is to take the place of a noun in a sentence. It can be used as a subject or an object. A pronoun is a word that refers to either the people talking (like "you" or "I") or
refers to someone or something that is being talked about (like "she", "it:, "them",
and "this"). Personal pronouns (like "he" and "her") specifically reference people
that you are talking about.
What is a personal pronoun?
- A personal pronoun is the pronoun that a person uses in reference to themself. For example, if Kyle's
pronouns are she, her, and hers, you could say “Kyle ate her food because she was
hungry."
What are some commonly used pronouns?
- She/her/hers and he/him/his are some common pronouns. Some people call these "female/feminine"
and "male/masculine" pronouns, but it is important to avoid these labels because not
everyone who uses he identifies as "male" expresses as "masculine."
- There are also many other pronouns in use. Here are a few you might hear:
- They/them/theirs (Kyle ate their food because they were hungry.)
- They/them/theirs is commonly used as a gender-neutral pronoun, though, not always...
and yes, "they" can in fact be used in the singular. The use of "they" to mark an unknown or indeterminate gender in English is much more
common than people realize. For example: ""I feel that if someone is not doing their job it should be called to their attention," is something that could be heard around an office that isn't contingent
upon usage of gendered pronouns to convey the intended message.
- Ze/hir/hirs (Kyle ate hir food because ze was hungry.) Ze is pronounced like "zee"
can also be spelled zie or xe. Hir is pronounced like "here.”
- Just my name please! (Kyle ate Kyle's food because Kyle was hungry) Some do not use
pronouns at all, using their name as a pronoun instead.
- Never, ever refer to a person as “it” or “he-she” (unless they specifically ask you
to.) These are derogatory slurs used against trans and gender non-conforming individuals.
If a student says “It doesn’t matter what pronoun you use to refer to me as," it is
recommended that you use the name they go by when referring to them (like the example
above).
Why is it important to respect people's pronouns?
- You will never know what someone’s pronouns are by looking at them.
- Asking and correctly using someone's pronouns is one of the most basic ways to show
your respect for their gender identity.
- When someone is referred to with the wrong pronoun, it can make them feel disrespected,
invalidated, dismissed, alienated, or dysphoric (or, often, all of the above).
- If you fail to respect someone else's gender identity, it is not only disrespectful
and hurtful, but also oppressive.
Why is it important to respect your students' pronouns as a Faculty Member?
- As a faculty member, you are often in a position of power, and students look to you
for guidance.
- Asking your students what their personal pronouns are and consistently using them
correctly can determine within the first few minutes if they will feel respected or
not.
- You will be setting an example for your class: If you are consistent about using someone's
personal pronouns, they will follow your example.
- Many of your students will be learning about pronouns for the first time, so this
will be a learning opportunity for them that they will keep forever.
- Discussing and correctly using pronouns sets a tone of respect. It can truly make
all of the difference, especially for incoming first-year students that may feel particularly
vulnerable, friendless, and scared.
How do I ask someone what their pronoun is?
- Try saying “Hi…my pronoun is he, what pronoun do you use?" or “What are your personal
pronouns, my pronouns are she, her, and hers.” or “Can you remind me which pronouns
you use for yourself?" It can feel awkward at first, but it is not half as awkward
as getting it wrong or making a hurtful assumption.
- If you are asking as part of an introduction exercise and you want to quickly explain
what a pronoun is, you can try something like this: "Tell us your name, where you
come from, and your personal pronoun. That means the pronoun you like to be referred
to with.” For example, I'm Kyle, I'm from Salt Lake City, and I like to be referred
to with she, her, and hers pronouns. So you could say, 'she went to her car' if you
were talking about me."
What if I make a mistake?
- Everyone slips up from time to time. The best thing to do if you use the wrong pronoun
for someone is to say something right away, like "Sorry, I meant she." If you realize
your mistake after the fact, apologize in private and move on.
- Often time, it can be tempting to go on and on about how bad you feel that you messed
up or how hard it is for you to get it right. But please…don't. It is inappropriate
and makes the person who was mis-gendered feel awkward and responsible for comforting
you, which is not their job. It is your job to remember people's pronouns.
Taking an active role
- In your classes, you may hear someone using the wrong pronoun for someone else. In
most cases, it is appropriate to gently correct them without further embarrassing
the individual who has been mis-gendered. This means saying something like "Actually,
Kyle prefers the pronoun she," and then moving on. If another student or a faculty
member is consistently using the wrong pronouns for someone, do not ignore it. In
addition, it is critical that you are checking in with the individual about how/if
they would like you to approach it.
- It may be appropriate to approach them and say something like "I noticed that you
were getting referred to with the wrong pronoun earlier, and I know that that can
be really hurtful. Would you be okay with me taking them aside and reminding them
about your personal pronouns? I want to make sure that this group is a safe space
for you." Follow up if necessary, but take your cues from the comfort level of your
student. Your actions will be greatly appreciated.
For Further Resources:
MyPronouns.org
"Some Very Basic Tips for Making Higher Education More Accessible to Trans Students
and Rethinking How We Talk about Gendered Bodies" by Dean Spade
