International Pronouns Day

[TartanLassie]

Message from the local education establishment.
So many things I want to say .....

Today is International Pronouns Day and we’re inviting you to celebrate it with us.

Using the correct pronoun (she/he/they) is incredibly important to members of the trans and gender non-conforming community. In fact, being called the wrong pronoun can be particularly harmful to their mental health and wellbeing, but it can be hard for people to share their pronoun when it isn’t something everyone does.

Many people use traditional “he/she” and “his/hers” pronouns, but some prefer to use “they/them”. Additionally some people change their pronouns depending on how they feel – you’ll sometimes see people use “she/they”.

Here are some things that you can do to help:
• Have a look at this website: https://www.mypronouns.org//_ It contains useful information on why it matters and how to use inclusive language
• Consider adding your pronouns to your email signature This helps to normalise the practice, making it easier for people who do not use gendered pronouns to use theirs. (This can also be useful for people with a name which isn’t necessarily male or female, like Sam)
• Consider putting your preferred pronouns in your social media bios
• When meeting new people or introducing yourself to a group for the first time, perhaps think about introducing yourself including your pronouns.
• In the same way, start to avoid assuming the pronouns that people use – if in doubt ask, or use the non-gender specific ‘they’ until you’re sure
• If you use the wrong pronoun by mistake, it is ok to apologise, ask or thank the person for clarification, and move on
• Gently correct people who are using the wrong pronoun to describe someone

I'm going for Farsi then.

So calling people by the wrong pronoun is hurtful and damaging to their mental health, and yet it's hard to share pronouns? And so it's up to us to normalise the practice? I"m sorry but no. If it's incredibly damaging to your mental health for people to refer to you in the wrong way but you don't say anything because it's 'hard' then it's not up to me to make this easier for you. I don't see what's hard about telling people pronouns, especially if it's so important to you. I swear the next step will be it's 'hurtful' to not participate in the pronoun game at all.

Oh yeah didn't really pick up on the international I'm sure the women of Yemen will be overjoyed that there is a day where they can celebrate using the pronoun of choice.

Let's overlook the fact they can be married off at any age, they can only access health care with the say so of a male guardian and on and on!

But hey Tim from Slough can be called she! Let's rejoice!

When you say "Message from the local education establishment." Do you mean a school, college or university?

Either way, it's utter nonsense.

I swear the next step will be it's 'hurtful' to not participate in the pronoun game at all.

I'm pretty sure that's been part of the dogma for quite a while.

The NHS are on for this aren't they?

I imagine messing with people who are sick, in pain and/or scared won't be the best idea...

Testing I'm being deliberately vague, quite like this username and would like to keep it for longer than a week! ;)

"My pronouns are sex based, like my oppression"

would be my response to being asked to put pronouns on my email signature.

Additionally some people change their pronouns depending on how they feel – you’ll sometimes see people use “she/they”.

Yet again I start to seriously consider identifying as somebody with the pronouns they/them, because drawing attention to the fact that I am female is more likely to be unhelpful in getting the content of my message respected.

Tbh, all this has a ‘last days of Rome’ feel to it in its decedent self-absorbsion. I’m at the point of hoping the Visigoths turn up soon.
I’m sick to death of people banging on about how bloody fragile they are and making their constant need for mental cosseting everybody else’s responsibility. I’d hoped Covid might give them a bit of perspective, but it seems to have just made things worse.

@FloralBunting

Excellent. I will celebrate International Pronouns day, because I am very pro nouns.

Woman is my favourite.

That's me sorted too.

I think my favourite set of pronouns observed in the wild was gervais - something like 'he he he ... because I'm a comedian'.

Additionally some people change their pronouns depending on how they feel – you’ll sometimes see people use “she/they”.

Oops, I quoted this but didn't really refer to it in my post.

If somebody's email signature says she/they because they only feel like a woman some of the time and they feel like a they the rest of the time, how are we supposed to know what to call them in any given moment?

It's a fair bit of emotional labour to expect others to do isn't it.

My pronouns are do/re/mi.

We had this last year at work. It is not international it's some USA thing and they've stuck international in front of it to legitimise it. Just ignore!

Oh those poor snowflakes! Won't somebody please help the snowflakes before it's too late and they turn up to watch us die in a fire ?

@Cocothefirst

My pronouns are do/re/mi.

That did make me laugh!

@FemaleAndLearning

We had this last year at work. It is not international it's some USA thing and they've stuck international in front of it to legitimise it. Just ignore!

Like the 'world series'.?

Cultural imperialism, innit.

This is all based on the assumption that people have a good grasp of English. I know several people who do not have English as a first language and pronouns are often mixed up. Are the pronoun-sensitive going to avoid people who don't have fluent English in case they get misgendered?

the 22nd is International Stuttering Awareness Day

My pronouns are 'you' when speaking to me, 'I/me' when speaking about myself, and whatever the hell you like when speaking about me because what you say is not going to change my sex or my gender, or even how I feel about either. Yes, I have been 'misgendered' , no, it has never affected my mental health.

Although I like eurochick's response too. I might use that.

I've just realised...
That if gender feelings are real...
And if I'm honest with myself...
Then my "true self" pronouns would probably be something like it/it/its (= nonperson)
(funny what child abuse can do to someone's sense of self...)

Surprisinsgly enough, not exactly something I'd like to celebrate or publicly disclose.

My name is unisex and I’ve been on the receiving end of incorrect pronouns in emails for years....thankfully, my mental health has just about held up through this literal violence....

I’m so glad that my firm hasn’t yet encouraged people to confirm their pronouns in their email signatures. I work in a male dominated field and it would make zero sense to highlight my status as a woman in emails to unintentionally trigger yet more unconscious bias.

Today is international hagfish day. I will celebrate that instead. Pronouns can do one.

Ohhhh don't duck duck go hagfish. They look like nightmare willies.