Let’s dive into the world of pronouns – those common words involved in our chats that often get overlooked.

You know, the “you,” “we,” and “they” kind of words that keep our conversations ticking. But here’s the deal – in the patchwork of gender identities that we’re all navigating though and living in, pronouns are a bigger deal than we might think.

Ever belted out our banger of a national anthem and effortlessly switched from “God save our gracious Queen…” to “God save our gracious King…” when the Queen passed away… without missing a beat? That change happened naturally, right? Now, consider pronouns. Why the hiccup in recognising and respecting them in today’s world? Why is there so much resistance to calling people what they prefer to be called?

Pronouns are like name tags for your sentences. Easy, right? Well, it gets tricky when we’re dealing with a rainbow of gender identities that are being discovered. Defaulting to ‘he’ or ‘she’ based on looks is like trying to squeeze everyone into a one-size-fits-all sweater. It doesn’t work. And what’s more, you can really upset someone by blindly assuming their gender matches what you think their gender may be. The fact is, until we ASK, we don’t KNOW!

Now, let’s break down some of the more common pronoun sets:

• He/him/his & She/her/hers: Traditional, but don’t let appearances fool you. Not everyone fitting the ‘masculine’ or ‘feminine’ bill uses these pronouns.
• They/them/their: Sure, it’s for groups, but did you know it’s been a singular pronoun since 1375? Some folks love it because it lets them skip the ‘he’ or ‘she’ game.
• Ze/hir/hirs, Ze/zir/zirs: Fresh off the trans community, these are like the rebels of pronouns. Let individuals choose what fits them best. More gender neutral and fitting for those who identify this way.

But hey, not everyone vibes with pronouns. Some folks prefer going by their names – totally cool.

The world of pronouns is a vast galaxy, and what we’ve covered here is just a handful of constellations. There’s a whole universe of pronouns out there, each as unique as the folks who use them. So, if you’re curious and open-minded, ask. Don’t let the fear of stumbling over new pronouns hold you back. Approach it with the same curiosity you’d bring to a new Netflix series – without judgment and with an eagerness to understand. Embracing this conversational adventure not only makes you a pronoun trailblazer but also paves the way for a more inclusive and understanding community. Do some research, learn about the vast discoveries that have been made over recent years in terms of gender and identity research!

Now, the million-dollar question: How do you ask about pronouns without making it weird? Easy, just ask. Share your pronouns like it’s a secret handshake. “Hey, I’m Matt, and I roll with He/They pronouns. What about you?” It’s a conversation starter, not rocket science.

Mistakes? Yeah, they happen. Own up, say sorry, and fix it. Remember, misgendering is like stepping on a linguistic landmine. It can hurt. Quick apology, maybe a follow-up in private, and commit to doing better.

In a nutshell, pronouns are the secret sauce of inclusivity. So in order build an inclusive community, let’s toss out the assumptions, embrace the mix, and celebrate the uniqueness of every pronoun in our linguistic bag of tricks. Because in the end, it’s about making everyone feel heard and respected – pronouns and all.