For many trans+ individuals, the lack of congruity between their gender identity and their sex assigned at birth can create stress and anxiety, which can then be magnified in the context of an unfamiliar classroom setting. To foster a less-stressful environment for students, we ask that you respect students’ gender identities and gender expressions and make a conscious effort to use their chosen name and pronouns when referring to them.
A pronoun is a word that a person uses to identify themselves. Many are familiar with he/him and she/her pronoun sets. However, some people use gender-neutral pronouns or simply request they be referred to by their first name instead of a pronoun.
These are some of the most common pronouns and their applications. They may seem grammatically challenging at first, but can be used effortlessly with practice.
Not using a student’s correct name and pronouns could make the student feel disrespected, potentially out this student to their peers or create a difficult classroom environment.
One of the best ways to create an inclusive learning environment is to use your resources to become knowledgeable and stay up-to-date about these issues.