Forced use of pronoun badge?

[RepelloMuggletum]

Need some advice before I reply to an email...

I am an undergrad on a health related university course - ordering uniform, we now have 'my name is' badges...which also has 'my pronouns are' written on too.

There was no other option but to select 'she/her he/him etc so I left it unselected.
I've just received an 'urgent' email stating that I DO have to select a pronoun to use and which one would I like, I'm pretty sure that this isn't enforceable by law, but also if I don't choose to display my pronouns will I be viewed as not being 'inclusive' or 'phobic' etc, which I don't want to labelled with as 1st year student

Any advice please?

TIA

Say you haven’t decided yet and you find there insistence that you decide triggering.

*their

Just say you’re undecided on your own preferred pronouns.

What happens to those who don’t identify as he or she?

Please don't try and out me, I find it really triggering

You shouldn't be forced, have a read of this:
filia.org.uk/latest-news/2021/12/1/should-you-declare-your-pronouns-a-simple-guide

But you have decide how far to take it is right for you.

@RepelloMuggletum I would say this edict is an illegal coercion to declare your pronouns, or ‘out’ yourself against your will, and hence against your legal rights, and that you wish to exercise your right to not declare your pronouns publicly in this way.

So pretty much what MoonbeamSprinkles said too :)

You should not be made to feel uncomfortable.

That's awful. I bet a lot of people on your course aren't happy with it either. At my workplace, we were strongly encouraged to give our preferred pronouns and gender identity, and almost everyone found it completely ridiculous (in fact I've never heard anyone supporting it). There were people around with much stronger views than me on the subject, and that's saying something!

yogyakartaprinciples.org/principle-6/

I don’t think they can argue with the above from the Yogyakarta Principles, which is sort of like an international declaration of TRA demands that they label human rights. Accompany with appropriate murmurs about how you don’t want to be forced to out yourself.

But it still might get you labelled difficult. Assuming the pronoun-demander is a petty tyrant who’s just doing this for the joy of imposing their will on others, they won’t appreciate being thwarted in this way. Do they have a lot of power over your course?

I honestly think this is one of those moments when you have to be brave and say that you don't want preferred pronouns on your badge. Don't explain just say you don't want them. If pushed you could say that you don't think it is for you to say how others should refer to you.

They don’t give you all the options then... I was reading something today about he/she/they which I found rather interesting...

Do she/her then stick a white label over it when you get it

Honestly, I'd just email, "No, thank you. Just my name will be fine." If you think you'll get further push back (or if you do), you could add, "I'd prefer not to be pressed on this any further [as I'm finding it quite distressing]". No public institution administrator should want to touch that with a barge pole.

So sorry OP, I think it’s bloody appalling that health institutions are forcing this on people. The idea that ppl should be forced to declare their pronouns is outrageous - ppl are entitled not to believe in gender woo and not to be harassed for that fact

It depends how much you want to stick your neck out - you could make an organisation like a womens place or someone like Baroness Nicholson aware

You could say your pronouns are she/him or that you use neo pronouns to highlight the absurdity of it all

Good grief OP.
I'd respond with an "anxious" response. "Oh dear, I am currently exploring my identity. Must I really come out before I'm ready - that feels very stressful. I'd hate this to negatively impact on my mental health. What are the legal / other consequences of me not wishing to label myself yet? Please advise??"

Put the onus on them to explain the reasons for their bullying.

I'm sorry that you're having to navigate this belief system in your workplace.

Why on earth should anyone be compelled to specify pronouns for others to use in this way? It's truly bizarre how many organisations have been captured by this. I agree that you could respond that you don't have a gender identity and find being compelled to provide pronouns to be intrusive and triggering.

I would just say I do not wish to declare my pronouns. there is no legal compulsion to do so.

Wow I didn't expect to get so many replies so quick!
Thank you
What concerns me is that I ordered the uniform in September, and due to collect uniform and badge in a few days..so it feels like I may have been 'flagged' in some way.

I would reply, no thank you, just my name will do. Make them make it an issue. Buy a bottle of tipex to have ready.

This is outrageous. I can't believe they're saying it's compulsory! I like the suggestions of saying that you're not ready to 'out' yourself yet/haven't decided, but the problem is that that kind of goes along with the idea of pronouns to a certain extent.

I would probably say that being able to change sex is not an ideology that I buy into in, and therefore there is no need for me to declare pronouns, because these don't change either from your given sex. Then I'd ask what the legal ramifications are of not declaring them.

That's what I'd LIKE to say, but not sure how well it would be received

It's transphobic. Send them one of the links above.

I'll die on this particular hill. I will use pronouns others ask me to use, should they state a preference. I would never knowingly deadname anyone.

What I don't do is be forced into compliance with someone else's fantasy. No, thank you. I am a non-believer. I've also spent the entirety of my adult life fighting the notion that my sex/gender has any bearing whatsoever on the way I do my job. I don't agree to relinquish that stance now so that others might feel more comfortable at my expense.

Flat NO.

@RepelloMuggletum

Wow I didn't expect to get so many replies so quick! Thank you What concerns me is that I ordered the uniform in September, and due to collect uniform and badge in a few days..so it feels like I may have been 'flagged' in some way.

Not a serious suggestion given that you don't want to flag yourself and make your own life difficult, but I would be so tempted in the right situation to just pick some pronouns, then a day or two later ask for them to be changed to something slightly different, then change them again. Gender is fluid after all...

Sorry you're going thru this OP.

“Thank you for your email. I prefer not to state preferred pronouns on my badge. I am not comfortable with using my uniform to make political statements in this way. Best wishes.”

If they say you have to, you have the option of either letting them bully you and giving in, or reply stating that requiring staff to state pronouns is inconsistent with your right

My university has been captured by SW, although I've only noticed 2 lecturers declaring their pronouns and 1 student so far. The SU have posters akin to 'people who menstruate' etc.

My course is predominately patient facing!

I dont think you should pretend you havent decided as that just feeds into this whole ridiculous scam. Just say you personally dont feel its necessary, thank you.