Not always binary
You’ll often hear the terms trans* man/ trans woman Vs. cis** man/ cis woman. It’s important to understand that gender identity doesn’t always adhere to the gender binary though. Trans people will often consider their gender to be non-binary.
Terminology
*Transgender (Trans): umbrella term used to describe people whose gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth.
**Cisgender (Cis): umbrella term used to describe people whose gender identity does align with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Pronouns
When it comes to gender, pronouns have become a talking point. They are often misunderstood and, as a result, so is gender identity.
Pronouns are simply a word that refers to someone in a direct conversation (E.g. I, you, we) or someone else being mentioned (E.g. she, they, them). Everyone has pronouns.
Someone’s gender identity is not determined by someone’s sex, but in our society it is often assigned as the same as a person’s sex at birth. In reality, depending on which culture you come from, ideas about gender can vary dramatically.
Watch 🎥 Miriam Margoyles meet Sistergirls from the Tiwi Islands
It’s important to note that the gender binary is inherently limited/limiting, and people's gender identities & expressions can be fluid and changeable. If you’re not sure what someone’s pronouns are, just ask! And if you make a mistake using the wrong pronouns for someone, make a point of not making the same mistake twice.
Something you can do
Sharing your pronouns is a great way to normalise gender inclusivity (e.g. Haley - she/her in your slack name, or “Hi I’m Ben and my pronouns are he/they at the start of a meeting). Even if you’re cisgendered, this action can create the space for trans and non-binary people and colleagues to share their pronouns. It's a great way to help everyone feel included that doesn’t require more than a few words.
Orientation Vs Preference
The word preference carried an implicit suggestion that there is a choice to be made. For instance, referring to sexual preference could insinuate that being gay, lesbian or bisexual is a choice. Sexual orientation is terminology that better reflects the nature of attraction and the experience of LGBTQIA+ people.
The same is true for pronouns. Try to think of them as belonging to someone, not chosen by someone. For many people their pronouns are mandatory. If someone is flexible about which pronouns they use, let them communicate that.
Similarly, saying someone “identifies as" their gender is different to stating their gender identity, and can imply a form of choice that doesn’t reflect reality (E.g try saying "they are non-binary” instead of "they identify as non-binary).
Unnecessarily gendering terms and phrases
Many business-related terms are still unnecessarily gendered, as are many greetings that are commonplace.
Not only does this negatively impact the experience of some people in the workplace, it also invalidates and alienates people who may not adhere to the gender binary — whether non-binary, gender non-conforming, or gender fluid. Remember, we want everyone to bring their true selves to work and feel safe, happy, comfortable and included!
Anti-Transphobic Language
Being anti-transphobic means you’re actively choosing to swap words that gender people, roles or groups in a way that may exclude or discriminate against trans people. Some word choices suggest gender stereotyping simply by their construction. It may not be intentional, but a simple change to words that may be in your regular vocabulary can do a lot for inclusivity. Think about how you refer to people in groups or people you haven’t met before and whether you use gendered terms without thinking.
Anti-Sexist Language
Anti-sexist language means actively choosing language that doesn’t reinforce the masculinity or femininity of a person, role or group, or align it with expected gender roles. It’s easy to employ anti-sexist language to break down social conventions around ‘men’ or ‘women’ performing certain roles or jobs. Think about words where the roles/term defaults to one gender (E.g. chairman) and roles/terms that change to indicate gender (i.e "hostess")
Luckily, there is an abundance of gender-neutral alternatives at our disposal. Let's use 'em!
Gendered Terminology
Ladies and gentlemen; boys and girls
Guys; lads;
Assuming he/him and she/her as default pronouns for groups or people you don’t know.
Chairman; Chairwoman
Waitress; actress, hostess
Got more examples? Please suggest them as a comment.
Gender Neutral Terminology
Everyone; All (i.e. "Hi all")
Folks; People; crew; friends; gang
Using gender neutral pronouns "they"/"them" as default (i.e. "If they take the stairs, they will increase their heart rate.")
Chairperson
Wait staff; actor; host
Remember, inclusive language is about what’s appropriate for the people you are speaking to, and there are nuances to all of this. If you’re not sure about a word, it’s a great opportunity to talk to people, internal and external, and see what preferences your connections have.
Some things just aren’t polite to ask about
While we encourage asking instead of telling, be mindful not to ask questions that are invasive or insensitive. Questions around anatomy, gender-affirming surgeries and more are usually not appropriate in the workplace or anywhere.
Similarly asking about someone’s previous name or 'dead name' can be a triggering experience for trans people.
Note: Not all transgender or gender diverse people undergo surgery, for various reasons. If you’re on the topic of surgery, the preferred respectful terminology is “gender affirming surgery”, as opposed to terms like “sex reassignment”.
Continue to ‘Inclusive language to support cultural diversity'