But let’s not let this political backlash obscure what’s really important: the power, affirmation and joy that using pronouns which represent who you truly are can bring. Third-person personal pronouns are used in place of someone’s first name and include he, she and they. Third-person personal pronouns in the English language can serve as a way of affirming someone’s gender or, when misused, can trigger discomfort and dysphoria. For many, using pronouns that reflect your gender identity authentically is vital to being affirmed. Research from the charity Mermaids has revealed that a third of British people don’t recognise non-binary pronouns – suggesting that more education on pronouns is needed.

Source: The Times October 24, 2023 16:51 UTC