Wouldn’t it be better if we just worked towards a future where “he” and “she” weren’t weighted with so much meaning? What if we worked to break those limitations down instead? Announcing yourself as a “she”, “he” or “they” would appear to buy into the notion that a “he” is completely different from a “she” – and if you don’t subscribe to traditional gender roles you should identify yourself as a “they”. Actively announcing myself as a she/her makes it seem like I’m making my entire identity about my gender, which feels regressive.įurther, while pronoun introductions are supposed to be about recognizing that gender is complex, it sometimes seems as though they – paradoxically – reinforce gender binaries. “Relying on clocking people’s gender based on appearances is harmful, especially since some people – oftentimes non-binary folks – can happen to look strictly binary, and a simple pronoun check makes things easier for everyone, including folks whose gender isn’t easy to tell.”īut when gender is so complex and personal, is there really any such thing as a “simple” pronoun check?Īt this stage, I should probably note that although I identify as a Progressive Lesbian™, the pressure of pronoun introductions often makes me feel uncomfortable. As Darius Hickman, a 23-year-old non-binary poet in New York says, these introductions mean people who don’t conform to traditional views of binary gender don’t feel alienated. Many view this as a positive step towards a more nuanced understanding of gender. Meanwhile, pronoun introductions have become an established feature of some progressive spaces and university campuses. Whatever pronoun makes you feel comfortable in the back.” In Dave Chappelle’s latest Netflix stand-up special, for example, he jokes: “Hey, what’s going on, fellas? Lady. Pronoun preferences are a favourite joke among unimaginative reactionaries who use them as proof that “snowflake millennials” just want to feel special. In recent years, however, they have become a cornerstone of the culture wars. Little attention used to be paid to pronouns. The anger doesn’t appear to have abated – this week, rumours that Wynn has been doxxed started circulating. The backlash was so bad that Wynn deleted her Twitter account. She was also accused of benefiting from “passing privilege” because she is a conventionally attractive white woman. Wynn was quickly inundated by angry messages from a small number of highly vocal non-binary people who thought she was invalidating their identity. (If you know Wynn’s work, the last words should be read with a hint of self-deprecation.) But it comes at the minor expense of semi-passable transes like me, and that’s super fucking hard for us.” Wynn added: “I guess good for people who use they/them only and want only gender neutral language.
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