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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

More places asking me to state my prounouns. WWYD?

182 replies

GennyCrabby · 08/08/2020 09:44

For obvious reasons I don't want to state my pronouns. I have an obviously female name and woman figure and if somebody accidentally "misgendered" me I'd be happy to correct them no hard feelings.

I'm finding in this strange year that more and more places online are asking for prounouns. Anybody else experiencing this? So far it's been a request, and I've been able to just ignore it.

The requests at the beginning of zoom calls are getting more emphatic and less like a choice Hmm. I'm working with different people so it could be that, but my sense is more and more that I'm being one of the fewer and fewer in the call(s) who don't change my name to include my pronouns I stand out more and more as GC. For somebody who is deliberately not "out" it's getting very uncomfortable.

I requested to joined a Facebook group last night. This morning I woke up to an "introduce yourself!" post that instructed (not requested) us to declare our pronouns. I've ignored that bit, but the way it was phrased it's obvious I have ignored it and i wonder if I'm going to be prompted again. If pushed I think I'll go the "my prounouns are sex based" or "oh yeah sure I'm female Smile" route or drop the admin a PM saying I am uncomfortable stating my pronouns and hope they leave it as that.

The second is more delicate, because it's a session for my hobby that I want to go to that is being run by a trans man. I'm very happy to use their preferred pronouns and don't wish in the slightest to do or say anything against them - I am after all despite what many would claim, not transphobic, I wish him peace and he's a big deal in this field, I'd love to learn from him. Equally, I feel strongly enough about my own rights and views that I just don't want to state my pronouns. Help! How on earth would you handle this delicately and with grace?

OP posts:
EmpressJKRowlingSpartacus · 08/08/2020 09:56

Quoting from TyroSaysMeow on
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/a3985745-Asked-to-put-preferred-pronouns-on-email-signature?msgid=98903985#98903985

‘There's a thread just been bumped on FWR about the Yogyakarta Principles - international best practice for accommodating trans people apparently.

"Ensure the right of all persons ordinarily to choose when, to whom, and how to disclose information pertaining to their sexual orientation or gender identity, and protect all persons from arbitrary or unwanted disclosure, or threat of disclosure of such information from others."

Telling you to put your pronouns in your email signature is contrary to the Yogyakarta Principles.‘

Deltoids1 · 08/08/2020 09:56

I know it’s not comfortable going against the flow but I would just state “I am not comfortable stating my pronouns, please refer to me how you see fit.”
Because fundamentally, how the other react to that polite request tells you all you need to know about the group.
I do believe if we, individually, don’t go along with this crap then we cause some resistance in real life. So many women have been incredibly brave and publicly stood up to this crap, they need our backing even in small ways.
Nothing changes if we don’t do anything.

Deliriumoftheendless · 08/08/2020 09:56

Pronouns shouldn’t be compulsory. If people wish to state them at every opportunity that’s up to them.

GennyCrabby · 08/08/2020 09:55

@Queenoftheashes that's not a bad strategy, thanks!

OP posts:
GennyCrabby · 08/08/2020 09:54

Well obviously I won't be doing that. This individual doesn't post that crap. I want a peaceful mutually respectful engagement, not a fight.

OP posts:
Queenoftheashes · 08/08/2020 09:52

Rupaul doesn’t have preferred pronouns and no one cares
Just say you don’t have a preference
The whole thing is so ridiculous. No one has asked me yet but it won’t go well.

GoshHashana · 08/08/2020 09:48

Tell them they're doing you literal violence by asking you to out yourself, and threaten legal action because you're so triggered.