International Pronouns Day: A brief history of pronouns
For International Pronouns Day on 19 October 2022, we look into the history of pronouns and how our relationship with language has developed to help us express ourselves.
International Day of Pronouns 2022
- Written byUAL Communications
- Published date 19 October 2022
Share story
The International Day of Pronouns takes place on 19 October this year and to mark it, we’ve decided to address some of the most common myths around pronouns and their usage. Using the correct pronouns for people, whether they are trans, non-binary, gender-fluid, gender non-conforming or cisgender, is important as it shows that we recognise and respect others for who they are.
The myth
Your pronouns are permanent.
The reality
An individual may decide at any point in their life that they no longer feel comfortable with the pronouns they were assigned at birth or have been using. Everyone has the right to decide which pronouns best reflect them and it’s OK if this decision changes.
The myth
Less common pronouns are too hard to remember to use.
The reality
If someone uses pronouns that you are personally not as familiar with, that’s OK. The reality is that much of the population use the pronouns ‘she/her’ or ‘he/him’. How you respond is what matters. Give people the courtesy you would expect and take the time to learn people’s pronouns and use them. You might not always get it right but by listening to feedback and learning from your mistakes, you will make progress. We all deserve to be referred to by the correct pronouns and showing enthusiasm to learn people’s pronouns goes a long way.
The myth
You can’t refer to a singular person as ‘they/them’.
The reality
You can and we all do it! ‘They’ has been used as a singular pronoun since at least the 14th century and this is still the case today. If you came across a phone on the street, you’d think ‘someone lost their phone’, you wouldn’t say ‘someone lost his or her phone.’ Now if someone you know (let’s call them Alex) uses they/them pronouns and loses their phone, the same rule would apply. You’d say, ‘Alex lost their phone.’ Framing it like this is a useful way to break down the myth that they/them pronouns don’t make sense.
The myth
Only trans and non-binary people should share their pronouns.
The reality
A common misconception is that cisgender people do not need to share their pronouns, but this is not necessarily true. Whilst it is everyone’s choice whether or not they share their pronouns, doing so can help create an environment where it is a normal thing to do. This can help people who feel they may need to clarify their pronouns feel more at ease doing so.
Adding your pronouns to your social media accounts is easy to do and will stop people assuming your pronouns. This is an important aspect to consider because if we encourage people to speculate others’ pronouns, we may perpetuate false and harmful stereotypes.
The myth
I don’t have pronouns.
The reality
You most probably do. Some people mistakenly think pronouns are a modern phenomenon that they can simply choose not to engage with. However, the vast majority of people do have pronouns that they respond and relate to. The only change is that discussions around pronouns and usage are more commonplace than in previous years.