New Zealand Government Dept Pronoun Document

This is extremely problematic. If 1 person doesn’t do it, everyone in the office will make assumptions about your politics or beliefs around it.

You see, this is the great thing about being an old gimmer (and not the only breadwinner tbf).

I don’t care whether people make assumptions about me. I don’t care whether they think I’m problematic. As I said upthread, I declined to give my pronouns and gave a reason. There was some nervous shuffling of papers and “so, shall we move to the agenda?” but what are they going to do? Forcing someone to reveal something personal to strangers is not a good look.

I hate this, and will refuse to join in if work ever encourages it (my previous place did, even got pips bunce etc in).

I saw an email from a new client the other day, signed off (fake name) “Rob Smith he/him”. If your name is clearly one used by a particular sex, what on earth does it add? I can bloody tell you’re a he/him!

You never see “Mark Jones she/her” because most (all?) transgender people choose a new name.

As well as the compelled speech aspect, the fact you will rarely use third person pronouns in front of someone (who’s she? The cat’s mother?), there’s the often overlooked fact that it is entirely unnecessary for the vast majority of people whose pronouns we can tell from their name. And if we can’t, we wait until we either meet/speak to them to confirm!

Isn’t it unbelievable that such a tiny percentage of the population have the power to force this on the rest of us?

It's bad enough having to do the introductions, it's all time wasting without this having to declare personal information about yourself.

Wonder if there is a privacy angle to this, some people even if part of the so-called community might not want all and sundry knowing, and anyone that they do know would know. It's one of those things forcing people to disclose stuff they typically wouldn't in the workplace.

They also should address they are making stuff up, in the definitions especially with newly created words like "taahine" which the best sources I can find is a Tongan word for maiden they've nicked. Good luck trying to claim "whakatāne" and letting you speak on the Marae, you'd be lucky if they let you speak from the porch. Same with intersex, instead of it being a person with a medical condition that affects the reproductive system, it about "biological attributes", those things you can only understand if you know what a male or female is.

"In order to be an ally to those grappling with their gender identity, and who don't yet feel confident enough to declare pronouns, I am showing solidarity by not declaring any pronouns. This helps to create a safe space where people don't feel pressured to declare a gender identity. I won't take offence to whichever pronouns you feel you wish to use in referring to me"

The above was on a thread a week or two back and I thought it was a great way of saying 'thanks, but no thanks'

Thank god I am self employed.

I agree @Kit19

fairplayforwomen.com/pronouns/

No one should be forced to use

Having pronouns in an email signature signals you as an LGBTQIA+ ally

Not an L ally it doesn’t. This lesbian finds pronouns in signatures a useful indicator of who to be wary of.

Most of the Yogyakarta Principles are woke bollocks but in a case like this, they’re a useful weapon.

The indigenous language, an official language, which was once banned from teaching, is not acceptable to be taught at a basic level alongside English, but the government have a document on pronouns and what they mean and encourage all staff to use it

That speaks volumes. It is quite incredible. One thing which it highlights is the power and influence of the pronoun lobby. There is such a stark difference in the way in which the Maori language is treated. Your juxtaposition eloquently illustrates that.

@MillyMollyFarmer I think the wonderful Maori language is your best defence here. I’m no speaker but my understanding is the useful word ia means he and she and him and her. So I would choose ia as the preferred pronoun. And then (provocatively) ask why others were not doing the same.

obligatory pasting of link to fairplayforwomen.com/pronouns/

it is not OK to compel people to use pronouns

We have this at work. It was emailed out that everyone has to have them. I stated "I don't feel comfortable announcing my pronouns to everyone. I got some quizzical looks but nothing else said.

Bearing in mind people complain they have to use Māori or sing farewells to colleagues in Māori, with absolutely no pushback or document declaring that is not ok at work.

so are you saying that people are less happy to accommodate the ancient traditions and culture of the indigenous people of the islands than change their daily language and way of referring to people - in the name of accommodating people's differences.....

I visited NZ a couple of time and found it to be lovely but this is so sad - so much for a female Prime Minister being good for women.

I just said my name, that I’m a gender-critical feminist, and that I didn’t care what pronouns people used to talk about me in my absence