{"id":23071,"date":"2020-05-19T03:00:28","date_gmt":"2020-05-19T10:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=23071"},"modified":"2025-03-24T08:07:08","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T15:07:08","slug":"do-you-use-gender-neutral-pronouns-by-willow-woodford","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/19\/do-you-use-gender-neutral-pronouns-by-willow-woodford\/","title":{"rendered":"Do You Use Gender Neutral Pronouns? by Willow Woodford"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Do<\/a>Let\u2019s welcome back monthly columnist Willow Woodford<\/a> as she shares with us: \u201cDo You Use Gender Neutral Pronouns?\u201d Enjoy!<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Pronouns: they soften our sentences<\/strong>, shorten them and make them easier to read and speak. Though today I\u2019m primarily speaking to writers. And I\u2019m preaching to no one. I\u2019d simply like to give you something to think about.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Feet<\/a>

Photo by Julia Stepper on Unsplash<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cAmy lifted Amy\u2019s foot<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

from the stool at Amy\u2019s feet.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

VS.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cAmy lifted her foot<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

from the stool at her feet.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Seriously, do you want to read a novel written like the first one?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Neil<\/a>

Photo by History in HD on Unsplash<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u2018Cause I don\u2019t.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Traditionally, humankind has been referred to in the masculine as a default. <\/span>(More about this and the language surrounding it in the links at the end.)\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOne small step for man
\n<\/span>One giant leap
\n<\/span>for mankind.\u201d
\n<\/span>–Neil Armstrong<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Except we aren\u2019t all men, are we?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Neil Armstrong claimed to have actually said, \u201cOne small step for a man.\u201d But 1960\u2019s audio didn\u2019t catch it. In 2006<\/span> evidence<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>was found that he might have been right, though Armstrong himself said he couldn\u2019t hear it.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Gender\"<\/a>

Photo by\u00a0Sharon McCutcheon\u00a0on\u00a0Unsplash<\/p><\/div>\n

As we have come to understand ourselves, and humankind, we\u2019ve realized that there is so much more to us than meets the eye. And gender is one of those things.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Gender Neutral Pronouns and Gender Identity\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Many people have come to understand that they don\u2019t identify, in their inner selves, as male or female. Depending on how they feel or relate to the world, they may feel more comfortable with a pronoun that isn\u2019t a part of our daily vocabulary. Yet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI think one of the main reasons
\n<\/span><\/i>pronouns are important
\n<\/span><\/i>\u00a0is because, other than our name,
\n<\/span><\/i>it\u2019s one of the main ways
\n<\/span><\/i>people identify and call us.\u201d<\/span><\/i>
\n<\/span>— <\/span>Rowan Hepps Keeney<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I\u2019m not going to delve into the science or cultural feelings on gender identity. I\u2019d just like to recognize that they are a part of the society we live in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As writers we reflect that society.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many of us choose to include characters who don\u2019t identify as the traditional male or female gender. I applaud you!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Culture adapts as we learn more about ourselves.<\/strong> And language adapts to reflect that change. One of those changes is gender neutral pronouns.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As authors, we have a responsibility to recognize and herald language adjustments. We are the ones who record them!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are Gender Neutral Pronouns?<\/span><\/h2>\n

They are important, even if they feel strange on our tongues and in our fingers as we type.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They\/Them\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

They\/Them<\/i><\/b> are the easy ones. If you don\u2019t know, just assume. You won\u2019t be wrong, because that is as neutral as you can get.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, we\u2019ve traditionally used they\/them for plural references, but really the pronouns work.<\/span><\/p>\n

xe\/xem\/xyrs or ze(zie)\/hir\/hirs<\/span><\/h3>\n

Others include <\/span>xe\/xem\/xyrs<\/i><\/b> or <\/span>ze(zie)\/hir\/hirs<\/i><\/b> with the pattern of <\/span>she\/her\/hers<\/i><\/b>. (Read more in the links!)<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the best part!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Make Up Your Own Gender Neutral Pronouns<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you are writing a story you get to choose the pronouns for your gender-neutral characters. Or, even better, make them up! Just be sure to explain them if you make your own up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I encourage you to write gender neutral characters.<\/strong> They are a part of the fabric of humanity. My friends\u2019 words when we were discussing this article resonated with me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\"Typewriter\"<\/a>

Photo by Luca Onniboni on Unsplash<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cPart of how we write is knowing who our audience is.
\n<\/span>Thinking about it in terms of those two disparate groups
\n<\/span>could open up some possibilities.
\n<\/span>I mean, we talk about inclusion and everything,
\n<\/span>but it’s easy to exclude people who aren’t there yet too.\u201d
\n<\/span>— Suzanne Williams<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Humanity comes in many colors and forms. Let\u2019s celebrate and write about all of them! But please be careful and purposeful in choosing the pronouns you use. Correct pronouns validate an individual\u2019s feelings about themselves and experience with the world and show respect.<\/span><\/p>\n

Links to hear what others are saying about gender neutral pronouns<\/span><\/h2>\n