Use of wrong sex pronouns is ableist

[Leafstamp]

Couldn't see a thread on this new article, which says much of what a lot of us knew intuitively - that amongst other harms, use of preferred pronouns is ableist and against the rights and interests of children and adults with communication, cognitive, sensory, or mental health disabilities and challenges

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Yes, I've said this from the start based on years of knowing how difficult children with sp and Lang difficulties and/ or autism find aspects of grammar and pronouns anyway.

Unfortunately the disability studies world is pretty captured.

As is the world of the arts and disability:

disabilityarts.online/. (Unusually Not much I could see there today; usually is full of queer stuff.)

Yep - pronouns are slippery little linguistic bastards and it's quite common in my client group to find that they get confused with them.

I think this is almost a deliberate feature. They're designed to confuse and bewilder. Absolutely everyone who speaks someone else's preferred pronouns thinks the correct sex pronouns first and then corrects themselves before speaking the wrong sex ones. It's a deliberate effort, every time. Not everyone has the bandwidth to make that extra effort on top of ordinary social interactions - either because of SEN, or English is their second language so they're translating in their head too, or social anxiety, or simply having lots of worries on their mind. All those people become effectively excluded from social interaction with people of preferred pronouns.

I resent it. Particularly in the workplace, where I have to be there.

What's worse is that it deliberately contradicts and confuses safeguarding for children with additional needs.

My niece is autistic and has had to be taught not to physically touch others, mainly men. (I have issues with the fact that shes been told it's ok with women too but that's another matter.) she's over familiar. Female relatives don't like it either and find ways to deflect. It seems to be more about doing their hair now, but as a young teen she'd try to sit on laps.

Obviously we teach these children clear boundaries around toilets etc and many need to be helped as they get older with hygiene matters.

Mixing up and confusing the sexes further muddies things for them.

Yes, the safeguarding aspect is of most concern, though I've also just remembered the stroop test/effect that gets mentioned (worth a google for anyone who's not heard of it).

Using wrong sex pronouns adds to the cognitive load for anyone, and especially children with SEND etc.

This is why any new govt guidance must state that social transition is not recommended in schools.

It's what it always comes down to: either these values are applied equally to everyone, or it's not about inclusion or kindness or respect, it's just about one group of people who matter and other people who don't and must serve unquestioningly. It's fairly straight forward. Have your own choice of pronouns. Respect other people's choice to use their own language and meet their own needs too.

Equality of consideration. Equality of importance.