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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][twitter][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]In my experience not everybody fits a stereotype. In my opinion, instead of applying them to women, men, or nonbinary, it's a better practice to create an environment where people feel comfortable sharing. [/quote]

But, until/unless someone can provide a science-based explanation of how wanting to be something is the same as being that thing, many of us are likely to find this entire excercise pointless and stupid.  Especially when we are more interested in getting actual work done than in making friends and saving the world.[/quote]

I’m not sure what to say.  I’m the parent of a teen who uses they pronouns.  Being misgendered contributes to their feeling suicidal.  We are doing everything we can to improve their mental health but in the meantime if you were their co-worker I’d be highly grateful if you shared your pronouns to make things easier for them.  It’s not your responsibility, and I don’t think anybody should force you to do so, but they would appreciate it, and it would go a long way in creating an environment where they felt accepted.  My child is highly anxious, shy, and has a name that is generally assumed to use she/her pronouns like Sarah.  [/quote]

I am not the PP but how does identifying myself as a woman help your daughter?  I actually need someone to explain this to me.  If I hear anyone referring to me by a pronoun it’s a sign of disrespect.  Pronouns are not used in the presence you the person. None of this makes sense to me.  If your child is non binary, then they should consider changing her name to something less typically feminine if it bothers them.  Putting a pronoun identifier on your email signature draws attention to your gender, and in many cases that is a problem for professional women. I won’t do it![/quote]

I totally understand if you don’t want to do it—I disagree with policies that force people to share pronouns.  For my child, when other people sign their messages Sarah (she/her), my child feels more comfortable signing their emails Sarah (they/them).  Maybe it would make it easier on others if my child changed their name to Jade or Lark, but they like their current name.  Anyway, you are free to do as you wish.  I just wanted to explain what impact your sharing pronouns would have on my non-binary child, who could be your future co-worker.  While it’s obvious that most Sarahs use (she/her) pronouns, it makes it feel less scary for my kid to write Sarah (they/them) if others are also sign with pronouns.  Yes, my kid has lots of insecurities and is struggling with a lot.  It’s not your responsibility to help them, but the small gesture goes a long way toward helping them feel accepted.  [/quote]

But why even put pronouns in your email address at all? Your child sounds like they don’t want their gender discussed. Best way to do that is not put it front and center.  But—how would anyone even hear what pronouns people are using to talk about them anyway! The last time I saw someone refer to me as she, it was an email forwarded to me for situational awareness and I was honestly offended that the person didn’t refer to me with my name.  They used she and her several times, as if to underline my gender to my superior. It was gross. People shouldn’t be using pronouns at work much—unless they’re saying things they shouldn’t about a colleague’s work.  Work emails are typically about work, not people.  [/quote]

I guess this is a completely fictitious situation where you are my child’s co-worker!  In this situation, by putting their pronouns in the email signature, people would know that my child was Sarah who uses they/them pronouns, and would use their preferred pronouns when writing and speaking.  You are correct that my kid doesn’t want their pronouns front and center (which is why I don’t agree that people should be forced to share if they don’t want to) nor do they want to be addressed by the wrong ones.  If pronouns could be avoided altogether that would be great for my child.  Can’t speak for everyone though.[/quote]

I work with a non-binary colleague—they shortened their feminine name to something more ambiguous and I can probably count on my hand the number of times I’ve had to ever use a pronoun to refer to them.  Because I don’t gossip about people at work!

Keeping other people’s names/pronouns out of your mouth is just professionalism—which is lacking in too many places and is more of an issue than gender misidentification.  [/quote]

um what? I shouldn’t say people’s names at work?[/quote]

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