Gender Neutral Title & Pronouns FAQ
What is gender neutrality?
Why “Mx” for a title?
How do I pronounce “Mx”?
Why “they/their/them” for pronouns?
- To be gender neutral is to avoid distinguishing roles or expectations based on sex or gender. In many ways, our society is divided by gender and all too often such divisions have contributed to inequality. Gender neutrality is an effort to reduce that division and promote equality. Furthermore, traditional gender divisions promote a simplistic binary view at the expense of a more nuanced gender spectrum. One way that we divide by gender is in the language we use. Many roles have historically had different terms for the same role based on the gender of the person performing the role. A few examples are waiter/waitress, actor/actress, steward/stewardess. All too often this has contributed to a devaluation of given person’s role because of that person’s gender. Gender neutral alternatives to these examples remove the gender distinctions. "Waiter/waitress" becomes "food server" or simply "server". "Actor/actress" becomes just "actor". "Steward/stewardess" becomes "flight attendant". Using the same term for a role regardless of the gender of the person performing that role suggests that expectations for that role are the same regardless of gender. This is only a tiny aspect of gender neutrality but it is the part that is most relevant to my request for gender neutral title and pronouns.
Why “Mx” for a title?
- Teaching is a role for which gender is irrelevant. However, traditionally, teacher titles have been Mr, Mrs, Miss, and more recently Ms. All of the these titles are gender specific. "Mx" is a gender neutral alternative to this traditional titles. “Mx” preserves the “M” that is the common basis for traditional titles but replaces the following gender specific letter(s) with an “x”. The “x” is symbolic of the “x” chromosome that all people have regardless of gender. Furthermore, the “x” symbolically crosses out the gender specific letter(s) of the traditional title.
How do I pronounce “Mx”?
- Mx Sunderland prefers that “Mx” be pronounced “emex”. Explicitly saying the “ex” sound verbally reinforces the exing out of the traditional gender specific title. I hope the obvious challenge to traditional gendered title will highlight the difference and promote thinking and discussion.
Why “they/their/them” for pronouns?
- Efforts to establish gender neutral pronouns in the English language go back for over a century. Along the way, numerous different alternatives have been suggested. Increasingly, the singular and gender neutral they/their/them is becoming commonplace. Below is a chart translating the familiar traditional gender specific pronoun system into the gender neutral they/their/them system.
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Why are you taking gender neutral title and pronouns?
Do I have to use your Gender Neutral title and pronouns?
- I hope to promote thinking and discussion around gender and gender neutrality. Currently, gender neutral titles and pronouns are generally unfamiliar. In asking people to use generally unfamiliar gender neutral titles and pronouns for me, I’m trying to disrupt traditional practices that we often take for granted without thought. I’m hoping that this disruption, in turn, provokes thought and conversation.
- I also hope to help make using gender neutral titles and pronouns a little more familiar and comfortable. I firmly believe that we can all benefit from having gender neutral options for everyday titles and pronouns. Gender specific terms are not comfortable for everyone and given that gender specificity is not relevant in the context of the teacher role, in my opinion, gender neutral terms ought to be available. I’m hoping that by taking gender neutral title and pronouns, I can help make such terms a bit more familiar, comfortable and commonplace.
Do I have to use your Gender Neutral title and pronouns?
- The short answer is, "No, you don't." I hope that you will be willing to give it a shot, try out these unfamiliar terms. However, if you are really just not ready for this or are simply unwilling, that's fine. This is a request on my part. I know that my request can be really uncomfortable. As I mentioned above, it is intended to be disruptive to our normal practices. I understand that such disruption can be very unsettling. Rest assured, that I won't begrudge anyone who chooses not to participate. However, regardless of whether you decide to use this gender neutral system or not, I challenge you to reflect on the request.