POLISH UP ON YOUR PRONOUNS
Whether it’s talking to your family about pronouns or learning more yourself, a few words can make a big difference
From Juno star Elliot Page to hair maestro Jonathan Van Ness, a number of stars have been bringing gender into the conversation by coming out as non-binary.
You’re probably aware that gender is far more fluid than simply being male or female. And if you want to be kind and supportive of people who don’t identify as simply a man or woman, then pronouns are a great place to start.
While many people may comfortably view themselves as male or female, “nonbinary” or “gender queer” people might feel like a mix of genders or like they have no gender at all. And instead of being referred to as she or he, or him or her, they often use gender-neutral pronouns such as they, them, ze, hir or xe.
WHY IT MATTERS
Zed Tintor, deputy chief executive officer of LGBTIQ+ Health Australia, says there’s a good chance you know someone who identifies outside the traditional gender binary – even if they haven’t voiced it out loud to you.
“It’s important to never assume a person’s pronouns,” says Zed, who uses the pronouns they/them and title Mx (instead of Mr, Mrs or Ms).
“You may have grown up in a time where ‘he’ and ‘she’ were the dominant pronouns but be mindful that as a society we have made some progress in understanding the importance of gender diversity and inclusion.”
GETTING PRONOUNS RIGHT
The best way to help people of all genders feel comfortable is to clarify pronouns in everyday life.
“It might feel awkward at first but simply asking, ‘What pronoun do you use?’ is one of the simplest and most important ways to show respect for someone’s identity,” says Zed.
“You can also state your own pronouns in an introduction, which invites the other person to also state their pronouns.”
And if you make a mistake or wrongly assume a person’s