feeling scared

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Hi. Writing this feels bloody pathetic when there are women out there facing actual physical threats for putting their heads above the parapet, but I've just questioned my company's introduction of pronouns in email signatures, and I'm feeling scared. I couldn't not say something - I'm not having them disadvantage women in the workplace like this. Just awaiting all my colleagues hating on me now though.

Have you gone just to HR, or had to go more 'public'?
Best wishes.

Oooh, good point Hadalifeonce, thanks! I shall keep that question ready at hand!

Pronouns are just hollow virtue signalling.
Bad for reinforcing unconscious bias for women and really tricky for people who maybe aren't sure or don't want to bring their private life into their workplace.

Also showing support OP, it's frightening and it's mad that simple things like saying 'no I don't want to do that' should have you feeling emotional or scared.

You have done the right thing. Stand firm.

(Also lots of previous threads have useful links and examples of why it's a bad idea so have a dig around why you await a response, if they bother to reply!)

A surprising number of people are GC. I'm forever surprised at the number of women of my vintage and ten years either side who are totally on board, think JKR is brilliant and believe in biology. Some younger ones are too but it's harder for them to be open about it.

The Force be with you, OP.

Thank you all - I am feeling much better with you all behind me!

It's actually against the Yogyakarta Principles to pressure people to declare their gender identity, so it's not even supportive of trans people - what if someone feels compelled to give biological ones, when they don't actually feel right about that at all?

It's also, obviously, entrenching unconcious bias against women, by reminding the correspondent (or even tipping them off, if the person in question uses ambiguous names) of the sex of the writer. There's scads of data on this, and women's rights also matter.

Good for you. This stuff is scary, but until more people do it, nobody who objects realises how much company they have. I've been astonished to find almost nobody I know in the UK disagrees - only strong Labour activists, and not all of them, either. US, and it's a different deal altogether. But UK, and gender critical views seem pretty much the norm, including amongst a surprising number of very frightened young people. The resistance is larger than you think it is.

Good work OP, these small scary steps by ordinary women are part of what will bring us out of this insanity

I know I keep saying it, but I really really mean it - THANK YOU ALL!

Well done. Courage calls to courage everywhere

Good job OP!!!

I did this myself recently, though only to a colleague. They sent an email To a group encouraging faculty to ask their students to do the pronoun thing and I (Privately) suggested this could be bad for vulnerable women in STEM due to implicit bias And stereotyping of women, etc. She did reply saying she understood where I was coming from so maybe at least helped a bit.

I do think it’s really telling that people Seem to think unconscious bias and stereotype threat against women is a solved issue and something to laugh about. The core MRA is shining Through the rainbow gloss again.

@FWRLurker

I do think it’s really telling that people Seem to think unconscious bias and stereotype threat against women is a solved issue and something to laugh about. The core MRA is shining Through the rainbow gloss again.

They’re just feeling threatened because more women are fighting back against this archaic pronoun crap and refusing to be bullied. I say archaic, because telling people, women in particular that they have to use a pronoun is old fashioned nonsense that is absolutely no benefit to women.

Well done OP. 👏🏼

Bloody well done!

Well done. What did you say, so I have an idea when the inevitable happens at my workplace

Well done
Remember; there are more of us than you think

When you say your company's introduction to include pronouns, how did they request it, as compulsory or voluntary? I am sure this is imminent for us too.

Thanks again everyone - I will update when I hear more!

Well done, OP.

Courage calls to courage. Ultimately, they can't silence ALL of us!

I’ve learned over the years, that I’d rather be true to myself and have people hate me, than lie and hate myself.

I’m guessing you’ve arrived there too.

Hope you’re wrong and that actually everyone else will think “thank goodness someone said something”. Unless you’re working in woke central they probably will.

Well done OP.

Lots of women are in the same boat - it's so cheering to see someone standing up against this insidious form of bullying. Kathleen Stock called it 'social shaming' - women are much more likely to give way to the pressure and put other's demands first.

Brilliant that you haven't. It's a brave stand. Thank you!