personAlpronouns : wHyAndHow ?
Diversity , Equity & Inclusion Committee Chairs : AntinaMobley – PublicDefender ’ sOffice & ChristinaPotterBayern – PotterBayernLaw
Byusingpersonal pronounsyourselfand supportingotherswho doso , yousupport diversityandinclusion .
Iam a woman . “ Female ” is the gender assigned at my birth , and it is also the gender with which I identify today . Others probably look at me and think that I am a woman . I recently began using my personal pronouns (“ she / her ”) in my email signature block as part of my Zoom identity and in other settings where I will meet new people . I ’ m sure that some people think when they see this : Why is that necessary ? It ’ s obvious she is a woman . What ’ s the point of sharing pronouns ?
You can accomplish several things by using personal pronouns when identifying yourself , even when you think it ’ s obvious which pronouns apply to you . You begin to normalize this process so that it ’ s not so unusual for others to see or hear the use of personal pronouns . You show that you are aware that some people are referred to using pronouns that do not reflect who they are . You demonstrate that
others are wise not to make assumptions about anyone else ’ s personal pronouns . You show solidarity with those living their lives and yet are ridiculed or worse for not fitting into a typical gender stereotype . By using personal pronouns yourself and supporting others who do so , you support diversity and inclusion .
I should also note that people do not always fit a particular gender . Some may feel like they are neither male nor female , and they may use the pronouns “ they / them .” Even more , pronouns exist beyond those , such as “ ze / hir .” If you ’ re not used to it , it may feel strange to use your pronouns when identifying yourself or use “ they ” or “ them ” to describe a singular person . But if you are open-minded and wish to make others feel welcome and included , then you can give it a try .
As we challenge ourselves to be more supportive of diversity and treat everyone with equal respect , we often make mistakes . You may get it wrong . You may put your foot in your mouth . You may offend someone unintentionally . It is important to remember that mistakes are part of growth , and the generally accepted best practice is to acknowledge them , apologize , and move on .
It ’ s not up to you to decide what someone else ’ s gender is or which pronouns they should use . But you are welcome to share your pronouns with others . While this article is intended to pique your interest and provoke some thought , I encourage you to learn more by doing additional research . A great place to start is www . mypronouns . org . n
Author : Alexandra Srsic – Bay Area Legal Services
Join Us at the “ HCBA 125 : Celebrating The Past , Looking To The Future 125th Anniversary Reception and Panel Discussion ”
April 13 , 5:30 - 7 p . m . More information and registration at hillsbar . com .
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