What you can do
Sharing your pronouns is an important indicator of support for Trans and non-binary members of our community.
As an ally, showing your pronouns (but not requiring it of others) provides a show of support to our trans and non-binary students and colleagues and helps normalise the idea of recognising and respecting pronouns, and allows others to know how to address you without the need to ask. This small action can contribute towards creating a more inclusive environment for everyone to work and study no matter their gender identity. For more information please do take a look the MyPronouns website, which has some excellent resources on frequently asked questions about pronouns in general.
To include your pronouns is a personal decision, though it can make a real difference in reassuring our trans, non-binary, and broader LGBQ+ staff and students that they are welcome and accepted for who they are within the university. If you have any questions please do get in touch.
Actions you can take
- Add your pronouns to your email signature
- Add your pronouns to your CANVAS name
- Add your pronouns to your Zoom name (see Pronoun Zoom Guide)
- When talking about someone, use their name, job title, terms such as colleague, person, they etc instead of He/She.
- When hosting/speaking at an event, when introducing yourself, also include your pronouns to help normalise their use e.g. "Hello, I am John Smith and my pronouns are He/Him".
- Add your pronouns to your presentation/slides along with your name
- Invite attendees on an online meeting to add their pronouns
- Consider including pronoun opt-ins as a option when organising an event/conferences in attendance lists
- Do not assume you know someone's gender identify and the correct pronouns to use, if in doubt consider using neutral language
- Remove gendered language (He/She) from documents where they can be replaced with "employees", "students", "colleagues", "all", "everyone" etc
When you first meet someone, you don't want to ask about their pronouns. This could make them feel like you're asking them to out themselves as transgender, agender, or nonbinary, which they might not want to do, particularly if you work in a conservative office. Instead, introduce yourself with your pronouns: "Hi, I'm Caroline, and my pronouns are she/her." By sharing your own pronouns, you're allowing the other person to share theirs, but not forcing them to.
Additionally, avoid saying "preferred" pronouns. Despite the popularity of the term, it's incorrect, since "preferred" implies someone's gender is a preference.
Ultimately, using gender-neutral pronouns doesn't require too much effort on your part, but it could make a huge difference in creating a warmer, more inclusive workplace environment for everyone.
Finally, do not force other people to share their pronouns, it is a personal choice that should be respected.