Pronouns in work signatures- how do I stop it?

If it makes absolutely no difference then why do it?

In my previous and current employer, both captured according to the main newsletters, very few use pronouns. It's the usual few, dyed unnatural hair and flags on the desks types who use them. Everyone else ignores it.

Really? I call bollocks.

I have a name that confuses people: feminine in my parents' mother tongue, obscure or possibly masculine in English. Yes, people were often confused when meeting me in person or on the phone, having assumed from written communication that I was a man. Never caused me any problems.

I later realised that people assuming me to be male gave me gravitas (in their heads!) and I was taken more seriously. It was much easier to establish myself with new contacts when I signed off as Jelly Saurus than when I signed off as Jelly Saurus (Ms), or as Jelly Saurus (Miss).

How do you know she HAD a "gender"
Most people don't, you know.

Or do you mean her sex?
Of course, she could have easily made that clear with a title if it was really a problem. I suspect it wasn't though or else she would have added Ms or similar to her name.

I never will. I've never been asked to, although some colleagues have. I'd refuse if I was asked.

I have a neutral name and people often assume I'm a male Sam (not actually my name but same problem). I solved it by amending my signature to read "Ms Sam Jones" rather than just "Sam Jones." Haven't had to "declare" a gender through the medium of pronouns and it's no longer an issue (I love that "declare", it sounds as though it's six kilos of cocaine through customs)

At my work we’ve had a bit of a pronouns bump, presumably from colleagues who think the Supreme Court is full of meanies.

They seem to be about four years behind! I have noticed far fewer emails arriving with pronouns on them than before. It is on the way out.

It’s not mandatory so I don’t understand the outrage (tbh I wouldn’t understand the outrage even if you were made to add them - it takes two seconds and makes absolutely no difference whatsoever to your life).

Isn't this what "name"(Mr/Ms) is for? After all, you want to know how to address them, not how to talk about them?

Your post has at least 8 pronouns in it. What’s your problem?

Wouldn’t pronouns count as personal information.
Ask if the recording of this info is adhering to GDPR guidelines.

Jonathan Pie episode "Identity" covered this a little ...

We had our regular 'Interviewer Guidance' sent round , yep, including all the protected characteristics you can't ask about. No problem there.

Except, we're expected to add pronouns to our signatures, have the seemingly eight-weekly "diversity training" where, in the test questions, if anyone is a victim, they're easy to guess.

And all the top brass are adding their pronouns... really? Now?

Are Stonewall trying to recoup their lost money by mopping up sloppy seconds or something?

That approach gets the #bekind virtue signallers scratching their heads.

I think @lechiffre55 has the ideal approach but if you want to push back just ask them what gender is and why it matters? That should keep them busy for a while as no one ever seems to be able to come up with a cohesive definition. I would follow up with asking how you would know if you had a gender identity?

I have just refused. It looks like I'm the only one and I don't care. I sometimes get "reminded" about it, and "John will help if you don't know how to do it" but I still refuse.

I am not doing pronouns in my email signature. If asked why not "my gender identity is private". (Nobody will ever ask)

I care because its not a neutral act is it?

Neutral is whacking a line in the email signature standard that you should use size 12 font/ black text AND you can add pronouns if you want.... And leave it at that. Maybe a mention that 'we have revised the email signature policy, have a read & make sure you adhere to it. The End.

Wittering that they'd like you to use pronouns & any linked shite about 'being a good ally' (looking at you my employer) brings nuance to it being 'not mandatory'.

If you don't have to do it, why do you care? At some point you have to ask yourself why you're so very bothered about something that doesn't affect you in the slightest.

“My pronouns are fuck and off”

🤔

on second thoughts, not a very professional way to end an email 🫢

It’s likely unlawful to even suggest pronouns in this country. If you read the analysis linked it explains it.

Its not mandatory so the people who find it helpful to include pronouns can use them, the people who dislike the idea of pronouns don't need to use them, and the people who couldn't care less can do either!

Everyone wins.

How can it be unlawful if its not mandatory?

If you are only communicating through emails then why does it matter someone thinks you are male, and how do you know? As soon as you meet face to face, or another colleague refers to you as ‘she’ then they would realise which sex you are. As has been shown, it can be beneficial to be thought of as male.

An email signature could be a typical female name with she/her pronouns, but the person behind it could actually be a six foot hulking bloke with a beard.