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PRONOUNS.ORG RESOURCES ON PERSONAL PRONOUNS



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What/Why
How
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Asking
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Resources
About



WHAT AND WHY

Photo Credit: Disabled And Here. https://affecttheverb.com/disabledandhere Photo
taken by Chona Kasinger. “Three Black and disabled folx (one non-binary person
in a power wheelchair, one woman leaning against a wall, and one non-binary
person standing with a cane) engaged in conversation. All three are outdoors and
in front of a building with two large windows.” N.B. Some people describe
themselves using identity-first language and others use person-first language.
This caption is a quotation from the photo source.


WHAT ARE PERSONAL PRONOUNS AND WHY DO THEY MATTER?

In English, whether we realize it or not, people frequently refer to us using
pronouns when speaking about us. Often, when speaking of a singular human in the
third person, these pronouns have a gender implied -- such as “he” to refer to a
man/boy or “she” to refer to a woman/girl. These associations are not always
accurate or helpful.

Often, people make assumptions about the gender of another person based on the
person’s appearance or name. These assumptions aren’t always correct, and the
act of making an assumption (even if correct) sends a potentially harmful
message -- that people have to look a certain way to demonstrate the gender that
they are or are not.

Using someone’s correct personal pronouns is a way to respect them and create an
inclusive environment, just as using a person’s name can be a way to respect
them. Just as it can be offensive or even harassing to make up a nickname for
someone and call them that nickname against their will, it can be offensive or
harassing to guess at someone’s pronouns and refer to them using those pronouns
if that is not how that person wants to be known. Or, worse, actively choosing
to ignore the pronouns someone has stated that they go by could imply the
oppressive notion that intersex, transgender, nonbinary, and gender
nonconforming people do not or should not exist.



When we refer to "personal" pronouns, we don't mean that these pronouns are
necessarily private information (generally they are not), we mean that they are
pronouns referring to a unique and individual person.

Hopefully, you now have a fundamental understanding about why pronouns matter.
If you'd like to know more and to hear stories from trans and gender
nonconforming people about their lived experiences with pronouns, please check
out some of the videos and links in the resources section of this website. Once
you understand what we're talking about and why, let's learn about how to use
personal pronouns.


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