Have you ever been called by a name or gender that you don’t identify with? Misgendering someone is disrespectful and dismissive. One way to misgender is to assume you know someone’s gender via their appearance and to call them a name or pronoun that they don’t identify with. Misgendering can also occur when you teach as if your entire class is male. The best practice is to use words daily with intention and care.
To avoid unintentionally creating a sexist and homophobic classroom environment, during discussions do not limit yourself to male examples or heterosexual examples. Teachers can and should honor the breadth of experience and potential in students’ lives by discussing women, gender non-conforming, and LGBT-identified people. For example, avoid giving examples that assume that all doctors are men.
The first day of class can be stressful for both teachers and students. Rather than beginning class by calling roll and potentially addressing a student by a name or pronoun that they do not use, here are some strategies for being inclusive on the first day: 1) Ask students to introduce themselves or 2) Ask students to write down preferred names and pronouns. Also consider including the Gender-Inclusive/Non-Sexist Language Syllabi Statement in your syllabi to let students know that you want your classroom to be an inclusive space.
Keep in mind that the University of Pittsburgh provides an option for students to provide their Preferred Name in Courseweb and on 28 pages in PeopleSoft. The Preferred Name will only display on these 28 pages if a student has taken steps to add a Preferred Name. In this way, students can and should be proactive about making changes. However, faculty and staff should be cognizant that they might see a discrepancy between names throughout University systems.
Here are a few strategies to keep in mind when meeting regularly with a group of people for a class or event: If you are not sure what name or pronoun someone uses, ask! Respect a person’s identity by calling them by the name and pronouns that they use. Keep in mind that a person’s gender identity may change over time. Be open to changes in gender pronouns.
You may slip up and use the wrong gender pronoun when referring to another person. This is okay. However, don't pretend you didn't use the incorrect pronoun. If you make a mistake, take accountability for your error by correcting yourself before continuing your conversation. Everyone in the space will appreciate your effort.
We hope to foster a culture of inclusivity throughout the University of Pittsburgh. The best way to keep up with all of this information is to stay educated. Check out some of the resources below if you have questions or want to learn more.
TOOLS FOR WRITING
Terms to Use to Avoid Sexist Language
Language to Use
Language Not to Use
humankind
mankind
chair or chairperson
chairman
first year student
freshman
firefighter
fireman
flight attendant
stewardess
police officer
policeman
congressperson
congressman
How to Use Gender-Inclusive Pronouns for Third Person Singular
subject
object
possessive adjective
possessive pronoun
reflexive
they
them
their
theirs
themselves
ze/zie
zim
zir
zirs
zirself
Example Sentences:
they (subject):
They love coffee!
ze (subject):
Ze loves coffee!
them (object):
I asked them to meet me in the library.
zim (object):
I asked zim to meet me in the library.
their (possessive adjective):
I read their book in my composition class.
zir (possessive adjective):
I read zir book in my composition class.
themselves (reflexive):
They taught themselves to play the guitar.
zirself (reflexive):
Ze taught zirself to play the guitar.
Small wonder that so many grads of the moral relativist idealist ultramodernist campus carnival find themselves ill prepared to make their way in the world.
This morning my preferred pronoun is Yum Yum.
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