Pronouns

[fizzycokezero]

I'm being asked to state my pronouns on my email at work. I don't really want to do this but I don't really have a good enough rationale. Am I wrong not to do this? Can someone just give me a sensible non contentious reason that I can say for not wanting to do it?
Thanks

It disadvantages women in the workplace.

If you search the feminism board, there is a thread on there with some good responses.

Surely they can't force you?
Just don't do it. I wouldn't. It's bullshit.

I've also refused, because it's bullshit. They've not been able to come up with a retort to that so far.

Have you gone back and asked them why? (I would do so if asked so it’s actually spelled out to me why they want you to do so ).

Me personally, I would refuse , but I am old and grumpy - also my boss would think it a complete load of bollocks so I’d get no pressure .

Have they requested or ordered?

It's a request not an order. I'm heartened by these responses - thank you. It just seems pointless. I would be happy to go back and ask why but if I'm honest I don't really want to get into any discussion. At the moment I'm just ignoring it but I'm trying to have a response ready when asked to my face why I'm not doing it.

Just ignore it. That's my plan for when I'm inevitably invited to do the same. They will have to come and get me and force me to do such a nonsense. And if they do I'll say I'm gender fluid and how dare they try and pin me down in such a bigoted way

I've noted a couple of responses that I've seen on Mumsnet. Here's one:

I don't have a gender, just a sex, because I reject the concept of gender as based on sexist stereotypes.

If they ever try to enforce this where I work, I’ll be saying I’m not ready to disclose mine.

Just don't do it - I don't think it's bullshit or nonsense. If it's not for you, it's not for you.

I've had a similar request. I've let my boss know that my female-ness isn't relevant to my work so I don't need to shout about it.

So far it's worked!

Interestingly, a gay chap on my team is also resisting, because he says it might pressure people who don't identify with their assumed pronouns to out themselves/ make an issue of it.

My favourite is "I have a sex and a personality. Gender is an oppressive system of restrictive stereotyping. Now feck off."

The strongest 'woke' rationale is typically to say "I do not want to be forced to claim an identity or to pressure other people to declare an identity before they are ready to come out"

Ok thanks - sorry for being thick but what ARE the reasons for doing this? I can understand if you're transgender you might want to let people know how to address you but everyone knows I am female. I just don't really get it?

I refused. I wouldn’t put my sexual orientation, marital status, age, medical history, salary, shoe size or any other info on my email signature.

It’s no ones business but mine.

I don't share the perception of it being 'woke,' but agree with @parietal.

I genuinely feel strongly about this. Would you go around pressuring everyone to state their sexuality in their emails? Hell no.

If your company wants people to signal their transinclusivity there are better ways to do it that don't involve pressuring people to out themselves.

It is useful for some people to assert the pronouns they are comfortable with. To some people those pronouns are very significant and form a part of their identity, they feel affirmed and recognised in the use of certain pronouns. Other people prefer their identity to be much more individual, specific to them and find pronouns used as a means to undermine their sense of self.

Are any organisations actually going to ask people to their face why they're not complying with a request? I'd be surprised.

For context, I have a child who uses they/them pronouns - this is respected by me, our family and friends. I declare my pronouns in my work email. Just a reminder that not everybody on Mumsnet holds a similar position to the OP.

I don’t understand why this can’t just be a choice. If you want to announce your pronouns in a professional environment, crack on. But if you don’t, don’t.

So @ThankYouDebbie, you and I are on the same page.

You announce your pronouns on emails because you want to, others shouldn’t have to because they don’t want to. Simple, surely?

'I don't want to normalise self-ID into sex categories'

'Research shows that reminding people that I'm a woman could subtly shape how they see me and affect how respectful they are towards me'

'I'm not comfortable making this political statement'

'I don't want to make other people who might not agree with the practice of self-ID feel uncomfortable'

'I don't mind if people refer to me with the wrong pronouns - I can always put them right if the case arises' (bit disingenuous!)

'People can figure things out from my name' (assuming you don't have name given to both sexes)

I'm personally of the opinion that if people want to state their pronouns, they are perfectly welcome to do so. If someone does not want to, then there should be no pressure - I dislike compelled speech.

In terms of reasons, there's a few. There's some research evidence that shows that women are subject to unconscious bias if their sex is explicitly stated. I've seen a fair amount of anecdotal evidence that people who have 'gender neutral' names find themselves treated very differently when the person they are dealing with realises that they are a woman. I've also seen the argument that compelled use of pronouns is unfair to those who have not decided yet (non binary) and don't want to 'out themselves before they are ready.

Sorry, typo - non binary (for example)

@SarahAndQuack

I don't share the perception of it being 'woke,' but agree with *@parietal*.

I genuinely feel strongly about this. Would you go around pressuring everyone to state their sexuality in their emails? Hell no.

If your company wants people to signal their transinclusivity there are better ways to do it that don't involve pressuring people to out themselves.

Very well put!

I have absolutely no idea what this is about. What do you all mean by “state your pronouns”? This is not something I recall coming up at work.