“You can’t say “he” or “she” anymore, you have to say “the”.

[Mycatismadeofstringcheese]

Just had a chat with my 13 year old niece. Apparently when she goes back to school in September they have been told that they can’t say “he” or “she” any more, they have to say “the” and gave the example, “The hit me”.

My niece couldn’t explain why, just that they have to do it.

Apparently my brother and SIL think it is ridiculous but don’t want to complain or cause trouble.

This is in Suffolk. Is anyone else aware of anything like this? For a second I thought she was joking until I realised she was absolutely serious.

I’m so upset and frustrated by this.

@SonEtLumiere

Are there any languages with a gender neutral third person singular, ideally formal?

Actually there is.., in Sweden in 2012 a third gender neutral pronoun ‘hen’ was introduced as an addition to the already existing Swedish pronouns hon (she) and han (he).

The pronoun hen can be used both broadly when gender is unknown are regarded as irrelevant, and as a transgender pronoun for people who catogorise themselves outside the gender dichotomy. This is the first time that any language has so far added a third gender neutral pronoun, that has reached the wider population.

Farsi has no he or she. I am frequently misgendered... haha.

I remember in one episode of the Bridge there was a scene in which one of the un-PC police officers was taking the piss out of Saga Noren for using the word "hen".

I'd recommend that show.

They’d better not try to film in Glasgow then...

@SerenityNowwwww

They’d better not try to film in Glasgow then...

Aye, heeennnnnn

Surely brother and SIL can ask the school if this is true? That's a reasonable thing to do.

I would call them.

‘Now I know that this may sound silly, and I’m sure it’s just kids making up tall tales but I’ve heard...’