Historically, and as we have seen lately, students who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community are more likely to face discrimination surrounding sexual orientation or gender expression/identity, how a person presents their gender outwardly, through clothing, behavior, or other characteristics. One specific way gender is expressed is through use of pronouns. Today, more than three percent of incoming college students use pronouns other than she/her or he/him. Although this statistic may seem small, this percentage represents nearly 37,000 students during the 2022-2023 school year.
Cisgender people, those whose gender aligns with the sex they were given at birth, often do not think about pronoun usage in social settings, because they use the ones assigned to them at birth. While they/them is the most common alternative to he/him and she/her, other pronouns include ze/zir, ze/hir, and xe/xem. It is important to recognize that this list is non-exhaustive and continues to change as society and/or a person’s gender identity and expression evolve.
When people avoid or do not authentically accept those who identify or express themselves differently, it can lead to poor mental health and negative self-confidence for those in the LGBTQIA+ community. A study by The Trevor Project found that those who did not have their pronouns respected were more likely to attempt suicide than those who did.
There are many ways to support the LGTBQIA+ community, correctly using a person’s pronouns is one of the simplest. Normalize the experience of acknowledging pronouns by taking some simple steps:
- When you meet someone, introduce yourself with your pronouns and don’t assume theirs. If they do not offer their pronouns, use gender-neutral language instead. Additionally, there is nothing wrong with addressing a person by their given name.
- When speaking to groups, use gender-neutral terms such as “folks, fellow humans, everyone” instead of “ladies and gentlemen.”
- Include your pronouns on nametags or email signatures.
- If you use the wrong pronouns, accept the correction, apologize and move forward.
Still curious? Here are other important resources regarding pronouns and the LGBTIA+ community:
