What is a pronoun?

A pronoun is a word that refers to either the people talking (like I or you) or someone or something that is being talked about (like she, it, them, and this). Gender pronouns (like he and hers) specifically refer to people that you are talking about.

What is a “preferred gender pronoun”?

A "preferred gender pronoun" (or PGP) is the pronoun that a person chooses to use for themselves. For example: If Alex's preferred pronouns are she, her, and hers, you could say "Alex ate her food because she was hungry."

What are some commonly used pronouns?

She, her, hers and he, him, his are the most commonly used pronouns. Some people call these "female/feminine" and "male/masculine" pronouns, but many avoid these labels because, for example, not everyone who uses he feels like a "male" or "masculine."
There are also lots of gender-neutral pronouns in use. Here are a few you might hear: They, them, theirs (Alex ate their food because they were hungry.) This is a pretty common gender-neutral pronoun.... And yes, it can in fact be used in the singular. Ze, hir (Xena ate hir food because ze was hungry.) Ze is pronounced like "zee" can also be spelled zie or xe, and replaces she/he/they. Hir is pronounced like "here" and replaces her/hers/him/his/they/theirs.
Just my name please! Some people prefer not to 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 offensive slurs used against trans and gender non-conforming individuals.

Why is it important to respect people's PGPs?

You can't always know what someone’s PGP is by looking at them. Asking and correctly using someone's preferred pronoun 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.) It is a privilege to not have to worry about which pronoun someone is going to use for you based on how they perceive your gender. If you have this privilege, yet fail to respect someone else's gender identity, it is not only disrespectful and hurtful, but also oppressive.

How do I use gender pronounces in class?

As educators, we can take small steps to make sure all students feel welcome and affirmed in our class regardless of their gender identity. Being thoughtful about how we use pronouns is a meaningful way to support students whose gender might be different from what appears on their birth certificate. Many students don't feel comfortable, or safe, expressing their true gender identity. By clearly telling everyone in the room that you respect people of all gender identities, you are telling all your students: "It's OK to be you". Asking students of all ages what name and pronouns they would like you to use is a great first step.

Start with offering your name and pronouns when introducing yourself to the class. Include your pronouns in your Canvas page, Zoom name, email signature and syllabus.
Substitute gendered language for more inclusive language, such as “everybody,” “folks,” or “this person" or use names.
Try asking: "What are your preferred pronouns?" or "Which pronouns do you like to hear?" or "Can you remind me which pronouns you like 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 PGP is, you can try something like this: "Tell us your name, where you come from, and your preferred pronoun. That means the pronoun you like to be referred to with. For example, I'm Sharon, I'm from Israel, 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."
Be prepared to make a mistake—and to apologize: Despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss-gender people. As a culture we are in the habit of assuming pronouns based on appearance. This habit can be hard to break. When you miss-gender someone, correct yourself, apologize, and move on. You don’t need to justify yourself or overly apologize. It’s OK. But it’s important to challenge yourself to get it right the next time.
If you hear other students or faculty using the wrong pronouns for a student, check in with the student to see if and how they would like you to address it. They might not want to be the object of someone else’s political education. But if it becomes an ongoing problem, don’t ignore it.

A presentation about how to best use gender pronouns in Zoom meetings: Gender pronounces in Zoom.pptx

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