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Why I won't be putting my pronouns in my email signature:
This has now become "encouraged" at my university. A few in my department have embraced this (including one who seems to have them at twice the font size of the rest of their signature, no idea why)
1/n
This has now become "encouraged" at my university. A few in my department have embraced this (including one who seems to have them at twice the font size of the rest of their signature, no idea why)
1/n
I have asked if there was any equality impact assessment of this or any other aspects of the new Trans Guidance she Trans Policy. You can guess the answer 2/n
I use informative pronouns about a third party. That is what they are for. If a feminine presenting person is going to see a colleague it will confuse them less if I say "Chris is coming to see you, can you help her?". 3/n
If a man is in the women's changing room at the pool I'll be telling the staff "there's a man there and he won't leave". Even if he has his pronouns tattooed on his forehead*
People need to be informed using language and this is what it's for
*yes this is a thing
4/n
People need to be informed using language and this is what it's for
*yes this is a thing
4/n
Using non informative pronouns doesn't help those who don't speak English as a first language. It's awful for those with ASD who find non literal language really hard. It imposes forced speech on those who believe for religious/philosophical reasons that people can't change sex 5
And it's horrendous for those who like me are women in science - already a minority, it's likely to induce stereotype threat when we have to emphasise our own sex every time we write an email.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotype_threat 6/n
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotype_threat 6/n
I don't put "straight, married, white, mum, able bodied" in my email signature and I wouldn't tell everyone in a meeting.
And vulnerable young people exploring their gender identity, unhappy with their sex, can feel pressure to pick a side if they are also expected to state 7/n
And vulnerable young people exploring their gender identity, unhappy with their sex, can feel pressure to pick a side if they are also expected to state 7/n
their pronouns in every email. Would we expect a newly out young lesbian or gay man to put this fact in their email signature? Introduce themselves this way in a meeting? I think not. 8/8
