Pronouns
People at university may be gender non-conforming , non-binary , or transgender .
For many trans and gender diverse people , using the correct pronouns is an important and validating part of their gender affirmation . Some trans and gender diverse people may use gender-neutral pronouns , rather than binary male / female pronouns .
Gendered Gender neutral
Some people use pronouns include : pronouns include : neo-pronouns , such as :
• he / him / his • they / them / theirs . • xe / xem / xyr
• she / her / hers .
• ze / hir / hirs
• ey / em / eir .
Forms and Titles
Many university documents , systems or sign-ups ask for gender or titles . It is important to keep these options inclusive of gender diverse individuals . As well as common gender options such as man / male , woman / female , and non-binary , all forms should include a text box for individuals to identify themselves if they have not been adequately represented .
Gender Equity
Use gender-neutral terms and phrases unless gender is directly relevant .
folks guys everyone team
Introducing yourself using your name and pronouns can be an effective way to establish an inclusive environment .
If you accidentally misgender a person , don ’ t overthink it – apologise , correct yourself , and move on .
Refer to people in general in a way that does not mention gender . For example : If a student wants to change their classes , they should speak to an academic adviser .
If you want to change your classes , speak to an academic adviser .
If a student wants to change classes , he or she should speak to an academic adviser .
If you need to specify sex or gender ( for example , when reporting on student groups in a study ) use ‘ men ’ and ‘ women ’, not ‘ males ’ and ‘ females ’.
Do not confuse sexual orientation with gender identity .
Avoid using gendered job titles or other terms : supervisor foreman tradesperson tradesman
Sex and gender
Using “ female ” ( sex ) to refer to a “ woman ” or “ women ” ( gender ) is generally seen as exclusionary and inaccurate in terms of reflecting a person ’ s gender .
The term “ female ” has a biological connotation , typically referring to sex assigned at birth based on anatomy , whereas “ woman ” refers to gender and includes transgender women , who are not born female .
Using ‘ identifying ’ terms can signal that there is a difference between “ actual ” women and those who “ simply ” identify as such , creating an unwarranted and often unintentional hierarchy
women , including cis and trans woman-identifying / female-identifying women ( cis and trans )
women , including cis and trans and non-binary people who may be perceived as women or have experiences of being a woman humanity , human race , people man , mankind
More information on pronouns can be found
here and the UNSW email signature with pronouns can be found in the downloads section of the Brand Hub .
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