Got referred to as them/they at work today

[Smurfsurf]

Worked at our company for a few years and recently the "option" to add pronouns to our intranet profiles was added. I've ignored it and I haven't noticed anyone else adding them. Anyway I was copied in on a forwarded email after I'd queried something and I was referred to as them and they a number of times. "Send Smurf this info please and make sure that they know how to do x, they wanted it done recently but have not had the tools to help them do it". That kind of thing.

The person who did this is new and works in HR. I was... surprised. And felt a bit insulted? It felt impersonal. I mean fair enough if someone uses those terms and actually wants others to, whatever.

The person in question is very nice and we've chatted quite a bit but I just felt weird about it all. I'm wondering if this is it now, are they all going to be referring to everyone as they/them by default if they've not put pronouns down? Am also wondering if it was just "assumed" I'm they/them as I am not particularly girly or anything in my appearance but definitely don't come off non binary or anything, at least not that I've thought. But I suspect it might be a thing now especially in HR, I doubt anyone else gives a toss.

I'm a quiet person and hate confrontation so I'm not about to say anything but it bothered me a bit. But if I don't say anything will this give them the green light to continue? But I don't want to put she/her or whatever on my work profile ffs.

Oh Sorry, just seems it’s for someone else. 😊

Sorry for not being clear (bit sleep deprived). Yes, the word “assigned” in this context is used by TRAs to imply that sex is somehow imposed on an individual at birth. I might be wrong but think it was originally used when describing how people with DSDs were wrongly thought to be the opposite sex based on the appearance of genitals at birth, thus having the wrong sex “assigned” to them. Somehow, it’s become mainstream for everyone’s sex to now be described as “assigned at birth”.

Somehow, it’s become mainstream for everyone’s sex to now be described as “assigned at birth”.

Somehow. 😏

You are getting you info from? [sic]

I am getting my information about what 'assign' means from my knowledge of the English language, backed up by the Oxford English Dictionary. Just because TRAs have decided to make up their own meanings for things, that doesn't make them correct.

I'm not sure if you missed sex education, but your chromosomes do. If its the doctor at birth, would you like to explain to me how people know thyre having a girl or boy?

Your chromosomes dictate whether you are male or female, yes. Nobody assigns you male or female. The doctor does not assign your sex (or gender, the doctor observes your sex.

Btw, gender is not assigned at birth. If a TRA has claimed this, they're talking nonsense.

Of course gender isn't assigned at birth. Gender is just a bunch of stereotypes. So, when TRAs talk about someone being 'assigned male at birth', they are talking nonsense either way then? Sex is observed, not assigned. And gender is not assigned.

I completed my LGBTY Scotland training in schools earlier last week. So I'm well aware what these terms mean.

That does the opposite of lending weight to your points, I'm afraid, if what I've heard about these kinds of training scheme is anything to go by.

To be fair to the pp, if she's had to go through training from LGBTYouth she will have been given the very hard sell about all these ideas, without space for dissenting voices I would imagine.