Information
When we practice using pronouns, we are honoring how people choose to identify for themselves and thus not assumed. Please take a moment to read more about what pronouns are and why they are important. Information provided by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT).
On this page
Why do I list my pronouns?
This page contains answers to frequently asked questions about pronouns in bureau email signatures. These answers were developed by Diverse and Empowered Employees of Portland (DEEP), an employee resource group for City of Portland employees. Additionally, this page is also informed by Portland State University's Pronouns 101 Video.
Why do people list their pronouns?
When we practice using pronouns we are honoring how people choose to identify for themselves and thus not assumed. Broadly, people include pronouns in their email signature, or as part of their name/ID in things like Zoom and Teams, to promote gender equity and gender inclusion in the workplace and our community. It also communicates to others how they want to be addressed in a clear, unambiguous fashion. This document serves as a brief explainer/guideline for the practice, and you can read more about the different aspects in the subsections below.
What are pronouns?
- Pronoun: A word that can function by itself as a noun phrase and that refers either to the participants in the discourse (e.g., I, you ) or to someone or something mentioned elsewhere in the discourse (e.g., she, it, this ).
- A pronoun is a word that is typically used instead of a noun, like a name. For instance, if you found a wallet on the bus, you might say, “Oh no! Someone left their wallet! I need to get it back to them.”
- There are many pronouns available. The most common pronouns in the English language are “he,” “she,” and “they.” Some people do not use any pronouns and are addressed only by their name. You may also meet people who use “neopronouns” such as “hir,” “ver,” or “xem.”
- Some people may have more than one set of pronouns, and list them as (for example) “they/she” or “he/they.” If someone has more than one set listed, you can ask them which they prefer, and in what contexts.
Why do pronouns matter to people?
- Pronouns are a natural part of many languages that can convey gender identity. Gender identity is a person’s internal, deeply felt sense of being female, male, both, neither, or some other gender(s).
- Cisgender: coined as a respectful way of saying someone is “not transgender.” From Latin, “cis” is a prefix that means “on the same side of”.
- Transgender or Trans: someone whose gender identity does not match the gender assigned to them at birth. From Latin, “trans” is a prefix that means “transcend or across.”
- For many people, pronouns are an important part of their identity. Consistently using the wrong pronouns, especially after being corrected, is invalidating, and sometimes violating to people. This act is like how many people feel when others mispronounce their name or when people are called the wrong name.
- Regardless of gender, it is disrespectful to use the incorrect pronouns for someone once you have been informed about them, and it’s best to aim to get it right.
Why is this a common practice at the city?
- Unity is an essential part of normalization, and a citywide practice is much more impactful than individual action.
- It makes it easier to avoid misgendering someone.
- It helps combat sexism.
- It is a common assumption that gender-neutral names belong to men. By not sharing their pronouns, some people are treated with greater respect because the other party believes they are a man. A 2012 Yale study (Handelsman, Moss-Racusin) confirmed a similar instance of gender bias. Résumés with traditionally male names were disproportionately considered more competent and hirable than the same résumés with traditionally female names.
- Sharing our pronouns helps combat this bias by stating openly that one can occupy a position of power without passing as a man.
What are some reasons that someone might not include pronouns in their signature?
- The employee may not be “out” at work but may not want to use incorrect or non-representative pronouns for themselves.
- The employee may be exploring their identity and deciding what pronoun(s) they wish to use.
- The employee might not be comfortable sharing their identity for some other reason.
- The employee might not use pronouns at all, and instead would like their name repeated each time.
- The employee might not yet know the benefits of sharing pronouns or what their pronoun options are.