We've had the inevitable pronouns email at work...

[OgdensGoneNutFlake]

As above, I've had the virtue-signalling pronouns email at work. It's optional to put your preferred pronouns (which is the option I will be taking) but its the sort of environment that it will be noticed, and possibly commented on.

There was a thread a while back I can't seem to find that had short, non-inflamatory replies for why I won't be adding my he/she/zom/zur/zee's after my name- can anyone point me in the right direction of it? Or give me some safe-for-work replies to disengage from the conversation. I've only been there a few months and I don't really have the energy to be fighting battles with people who won't be listening anyway.

Sorry to be clear it's optional whether or not to put them on the email, and I won't be.

Presumably they aren't asking for a reason why if you choose not? Just don't and say nothing.

Don’t and say nothing

You can say it's akin to asking for your political affiliation or religion in your email sig. Inappropriate and discriminatory.

My personal favourite from these threads was the poster who asked her HR dept what other legally protected characteristics they'd like her to declare in her email signature. Probably not a good idea in your situation though, if you want to keep your head down.

Just say you're non-Joinery.

My workplace is the same.

I'd just ignore and say nothing.

In my job (NHS) I work with people with new and quite severe language and cognitive problems. I believe stating my preferred pronouns could affect their ability to access the information I give them. I'd have to see evidence that doing this helped my patients before I would do it.

Many of my colleagues are using their 'Hello my name is' badges to add their pronouns, which I believe is a misuse of the original campaign for these badges.

I’d request that mine were recorded as “Tart” and “Slapper” and insist that they were used.

I ignore and do nothing, never been asked why I don't have them on my email signature. If anyone challenged me, my response would be:

Gender / pronouns are a social construct rooted in misogyny and my right to that belief is protected under the Equalities Act

What would those be please.

The protected characteristics are (but this is from memory so I might miss one) :

Sex (not gender)
Sexual orientation
Race
Religion and belief
Disability
Pregnancy
Age
Gender reassignment (not gender identity)

Marriage and civil partnership

... and marriage/ civil partnership.

On a previous thread someone suggested that demanding pronouns could put pressure on someone who was questioning their gender, but not ready to declare it yet - you could use that. Either you’re not ready to declare, or you’re not stating in sympathy with others who are not ready to declare (and are never likely to be ;-)

We had this email a few months ago at a multi national company site with over 500 employees.
The only person I've noticed who subscribed to it and added pronouns was the site head. Everyone else has opted not to bother.
Ignore it if it doesn't apply to your needs, it'll quietly be forgotten soon.

Just say...

I'm not sure.
I'm not sure yet.
I'm feeling really confused and vulnerable...
Really confused and vulnerable as an older, married, female, mother ...
Is this a personal question? Why do you need to know? What do you want me to say?
I'm feeling really confused and vulnerable.

I work in a university and the majority of people don’t bother with this, despite “encouragement”. Interestingly, the university implemented a pronouns field a few years ago on the student record system and while it was initially embraced by the students, I’ve noticed that an increasing number are now selecting the “no pronouns” option on the drop-down.

Just ignore it.

This "pronoun" stuff is really starting to look dated. I reckon its on its way out anyway,

ignore, ignore, ignore

if push further just say you don’t like labels. Disclosing PCs doesn’t sit right with you.

If any one asked me and it was an optional thing I'd just say "I have picked one of the options" and then ignore.if they pushed I'd ask why they had given that option if they didnt mean it.

"I expect people to refer time based on my sex and they have got it right so far"

*refer to me

The only person I've noticed who subscribed to it and added pronouns was the site head.

Am I the only one who misread the last two words there might not have been incorrect after all?!

I'd be inclined to put the ball back into the court of anybody nosy enough to question. Say you're not wanting to actively endorse a system that can put pressure on and out those who are unsure/not confident to go public about their personal identities; but I'd call their bluff and tell them that, as you don't have a gender 'identity' - and if it's third-person, then you won't be around to hear people referring to you anyway - it's up to them which pronouns they choose to use for you, and not really any of your business.

Watch the look of horror on their face and listen to the whirr of their brain, as they realise that, with your deliberate refusal to toe the line, they're going to either be a 'bigot' by assuming your (obvious, biologically-based) pronoun by default, or otherwise sound a fool every time they mention you to somebody and use a random different one.

If someone "reminds" you or expresses any curiosity about it just say "oh yes, I must sort that out" (and ignore).