The Ultimate in Performative Pronouns?

[Distractable]

Just noticed that in a (kind and helpful) email from my son's (all boys) school, the head of sixth form has signed herself as Mrs [Teacher's Name] she/her.

Is there a new world in which Mrs is used by he/him people?

[Headdesk emoji face]

Strange that she needs to announce her marital status as well as her right on credentials.

People who do this aren't that bright.

That's how she's known by the boys, so it makes some sense. The pronouns much less so. Interesting that the part of feminism which would not want to indicate marital status seems to have eluded her though.

I often wonder if I received one of these, whether I would send an email back pointing out the glitch in their system that she might want to check out, as it's looks a bit weird.

There was a great template email here for responding to pronouns in emails, saying it was inappropriate to include these and unprofessional as they represent a political stance. I will be sending it first time I receive anything like this.

I find it so puzzling school teachers get involved in this. Part of the job is to observe the various demographics and to notice when specific cohorts are ending up behind. She's lucky she's in a boys school I suppose. It's an occurrence in some schools thay boys lag behind in some subjects.

How would you explain missing the fact that there's a large gap between boys and girls in maths or you have poor uptake of girls in STEM subjects because a few crossovers boosted the results.

Accepting this ideology is not compatible their job as a teacher especially a head teacher. She chose stonewall over her kids.

Honestly couldn't get worked up about this - her choice of title and to add pronouns. I don't personally do this but then that's my choice.

Well she's a bit of a tit isn't she

Because it is political and therefore unprofessional. What if her signature was endorsing a particular candidate for the elections, for example? Anyone who hasn't been living under a rock knows how politicised this issue is.

She is entitled to her own personal views, that doesn't mean it's professional for them to be advertised on her email signature. Quite a few people in my workplace (arms length public sector) display pronouns on theirs and I think it's unprofessional.

🤣👏 nothing is going to make teens decide that preferred pronouns are tragically uncool faster than the headteacher doing it.

But if I got this I would write and complain yes, it’s discriminatory against gender critical students and parents whose views are proteced in law and it’s an unprofessional use of a work platform to promote a political ideology.

nothing is going to make teens decide that preferred pronouns are tragically uncool faster than the headteacher doing it.

Haha you couldn't be more right!! Maybe we are going about this all the wrong way! If all parents of teenagers started using pronouns and forcing them to do it ... well we all know how that would end!!

@Belafonte Don't suppose you know where I'd find that template letter, do you? Thinking that I'm going to have to write... Maybe to the governors or head, rather than the offending teacher?