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

Why is there a need to pronounce pronoun's though? They will only be used when I am not around so I wouldn't know anyway.

I share my pronouns on my emails
I don’t think there’s an issue and if it makes people feel more included then it’s a good thing
medium.com/gender-inclusivit/why-i-put-pronouns-on-my-email-signature-and-linkedin-profile-and-you-should-too-d3dc942c8743

Nope, not going to do it. There are many other characteristics which may make people feel excluded or included, I'm not cherry picking just the one.

My favourite answer on the FWR board was "I haven't decided yet". Because it makes the company think about the pressures they're putting on people and how it might make them uncomfortable.

Even if you're like me and think it's all a load of bollocks.

It's unlikely you'll get pushed on it, and if so I've found "I like to see how others respond to my work without that kind of prompting." or simply "I prefer not to." works fine and for me is honest.

Some like it, some don't, some don't care. Some feel included, some feel excluded or vulnerable about making something they may have difficult feelings around up front in all their communications, some see it as another tickbox they make when requested and forget.

@Aprilx

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.

As in, what pronouns people should use to refer to you. So in an email signature it would read something like Kind regards, Kate Fleming (she/her) Job title

Back in the old days people used to sign off emails with Jane Blogs (Ms)
And often if you didn't know (name you're not familiar with etc) it worked well.

I share mine in my work email signature. Because it helps normalise it for those who don't have the pronouns you might expect them to have.

We were asked to do so. There were a few articles in staff newsletter. But no one is forced to do it. Those that do, do. Those that don't, don't.

because it's not relevant?

I think maybe the best response is you've managed to get this far without writing your pronouns in an email so why do you need to start now? Have they actually given you a reason why they want you to do it?

Its really unreasonable, as its already harder for women to be taken seriously when people know theyre a woman. I would suggest to your boss/team that rather than putting pronouns, you would rather the sex of the people corresponding was more ambiguous, to combat prejudice and sexism
www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/gender-inequality-man-woman-switch-names-week-martin-schneider-nicky-knacks-pay-gap-a7622201.html

As far as I know companies aren't supposed to keep unnecessary information on employees since the gdpr data protection changes.

Some studies show women reminded of their sex performance suffers.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotype_threat

Then there's just plain sexism.
www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/gender-inequality-man-woman-switch-names-week-martin-schneider-nicky-knacks-pay-gap-a7622201.html%3famp

Keep it factual and impersonal. Good.luck!

Some of my female managers have added pronouns to their email signatures. To me it's just empty virtue signalling. And total bullshit.

[quote Shoxfordian]I share my pronouns on my emails
I don’t think there’s an issue and if it makes people feel more included then it’s a good thing
medium.com/gender-inclusivit/why-i-put-pronouns-on-my-email-signature-and-linkedin-profile-and-you-should-too-d3dc942c8743[/quote]
But if there is pressure on people to declare their pronouns when they aren't sure what their pronouns are that is a bad thing surely? I wouldn't want to force someone to out themselves if they weren't ready.

From this thread it sounds like most organisations have realised that you can’t compel your employees to state something personal on their work emails, which has to be a good thing.

Which makes me think anyone trying to suggest we should all do it is in the minority.

We were encouraged to do the same at work. I ignored it for ages but then decided to change it. Mine says: Name (Preferred Pronouns - Sex Based)

I don’t see it as a big deal. I work with an Alex and a Sam who are often referred to as “he” or “she” incorrectly in emails. Some people prefer they/them pronouns which I don’t mind respecting either, because it takes zero effort on my part and makes them feel more comfortable.
I would personally write my pronouns on if everyone else is because it won’t effect me in any way and helps to normalise trans people doing the same.
I know a trans man who is constantly called female pronouns in public which he says is a constant reminder that he will never seem to others how he sees himself. If he puts his pronouns in his email, it’s really helpful to himself and others.

'I don't put any other of my protected characteristics in my email signature and don't want to be disadvantaged by the inclusion of this one.'

Lots of people at work have done it and they’ve sent out a communication about it (how to do it - )

I’m on Mat leave now so am free from it for some time yet but I’ll just be saying no. I would be surprised if they asked me for a reason, and I would request a formal meeting if they did so to avoid any bullshit.

I have a gender neutral name and have often been mistaken for a man (in writing) over the years. Personally I don’t want to flag that I’m a woman on emails and CVs while sexism is still alive and kicking so I won’t be adding sex based pronouns to my emails. If people want to talk about me when I’m not there they can use my name!

The best answer should be 'because I don't want to' or 'because I don't think it is necessary'

However depending on your place of business, they may view any disagreement as problematic.

So I'd suggest 'I feel demanding people display their pronouns puts pressure on trans people who have not declared themselves as such to either do so more quickly or state something that isn't true which could be hurtful for them. Therefore I feel stating pronouns should be voluntary and I'm happy to leave my pronouns off in order to hold a space for those that would feel uncomfortable being pushed into making a choice about their own pronouns' 👍🏻

I have just said I don't use pronouns, people can refer to me / about me by name only. That's how I identify, if they have a problem with that then they need to think about what all this bollocks is actually about.

@soapboxqueen

The best answer should be 'because I don't want to' or 'because I don't think it is necessary'

However depending on your place of business, they may view any disagreement as problematic.

So I'd suggest 'I feel demanding people display their pronouns puts pressure on trans people who have not declared themselves as such to either do so more quickly or state something that isn't true which could be hurtful for them. Therefore I feel stating pronouns should be voluntary and I'm happy to leave my pronouns off in order to hold a space for those that would feel uncomfortable being pushed into making a choice about their own pronouns' 👍🏻

Or, people could just get on with their business instead of pretending their primary concern is to speak for a community that they are not a part of

@ThankYouDebbie are you saying that I should mind my business or that organisations should mind their business?

@fizzycokezero

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?

You're supposed to pretend that it's perfectly obvious that you may not actually be female and that people won't know what you are unless you tell them!