Beyond the Binary

Can you recall the last time when you read or heard a speech, came across an article or an official document, acknowledging gender-neutral pronouns? Probably not. In almost every sphere of life, be it at the workplace or in our daily conversations, people often use the conventional dichotomized gender pronouns, namely he/she. There is a common tendency of assuming one’s gender based on one’s appearance. It is not only inappropriate but is also offensive to those who identify themselves with multiple genders. The concept of gender is a broad spectrum encompassing a wide range of diversity. People often choose to identify as ‘gender-fluid’, thus being aware of the gender-neutral pronouns and using the correct pronouns is crucial. The idea where an individual’s gender identity varies over time and is very subjective is referred to as ‘gender fluidity’. One day, a gender-fluid person may identify themselves as a woman and the next as a male. They may also be known as a non-binary identity, agender, bigender, or other. Some gender-fluid individuals feel that their identity changes are extreme, whereas others may think of it as ambiguous.

Many people update their gender pronouns on their Instagram bios to let others know how they can address them. This is because it is important to note that we attribute a person with their right gender identity, to avoid the act of misgendering and maintain respectful healthy social relations. Many individuals can still feel insecure stating their chosen gender pronoun, which can be countered by normalizing the practice. It decreases the marginalization of queer people with distinct identification interests, or otherwise.

Some frequently used pronouns include she/her/hers and he/him/his. Some people refer to these pronouns as "female/feminine" and "male/masculine," pronouns, while many others reject these labels because not everyone identifies as female/feminine or male/masculine. One common gender-neutral pronoun is they/them/theirs and it can be used in the singular. Referring to individuals using “it” or “he-she” is considered as derogatory slurs used against people who are trans or gender non-conforming. We should ensure to address strangers with gender-neutral pronouns to create an inclusive and respectable space in the society.

Addressing people with correct gender pronouns is immensely important. A polite inquiry of the other person’s gender identity is always better than using incorrect gender pronouns. Using correct gender pronouns to address people is a pivotal sign of showing respect to them and their gender identity. This promotes the value of respecting people on equal grounds regardless of the gender identity they associate themselves with. Educating those around us about the correct usage of gender pronouns and creating awareness about the same will help us all to create a more respectful and well-informed society. We as a society need to evolve and develop in terms of becoming more aware about the gender spectrum, respecting people’s gender identities and accepting people for who they are!