It’s Time for ‘They’
A "preferred gender pronoun" (or PGP) is the pronoun that a person chooses to use for themself. She/her/hers and he/him/his are a few commonly used pronouns. Some people call these “female/feminine” and “male/masculine” pronouns, but many avoid these labels because not everyone who uses he feels like a “male” or “masculine.” There are also lots of gender-neutral pronouns in use as well. In this essay, I will disagree with Farhad Manjoo, I believe that people should use the pronouns that they feel comfortable with whether it be he/him, she/her, they/them, and etc.
Farhad Manjoo believes that “It’s time for the singular “they.” Indeed, it’s well past time — and I’d like to do my part in pushing “they” along.” Manjoo believes that the world will be better place if we abandoned unnecessary gender signifiers in communication with others. Manjoo states that there are several advantages, both linguistic and cultural, to using the singular they. A reason Farhad talks about for using “they” is that it is found everywhere. “They is universal and purely neutral…” But is this right to force people to use the word “they”? I will go onto explain my reasoning that people should use the pronouns that they feel comfortable with.
I believe that people should use the pronouns that they feel comfortable with whether it be he/him, she/her, they/them, and etc. It is unfair to force people to use the word “they”. Asking and correctly using someone's pronouns is one of the most basic ways to show your respect for their gender identity. When someone is referred to with the wrong pronoun, it can make them feel disrespected and invalidated. If people just used the word “they” for someone pronouns they might feel disrespected that you’re not respecting them by using their pronouns. These actions of using pronouns will help make our world more inclusive of transgender and creating a more welcoming space for people of all genders.
Being misgendered happens countless times in a day, and that builds up really quickly. It can really be difficult for a person to hear it over and over again because it invalidates your identity over and over again. Pronouns are important because they're the smallest way to acknowledge someone's identity. Using someone’s correct personal pronouns is a way to respect them, just as using a person’s name can be a way to respect them. This is why that people should use the pronouns that they feel comfortable with whether it be he/him, she/her, they/them, and etc.
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Work Cited
Manjoo, F. Opinion | It’s Time for ‘They’ (Published 2019). 3 June 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/10/opinion/pronoun-they-gender.html.
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