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WHAT ARE PERSONAL

PRONOUNS AND WHY DO

THEY MATTER?

At Stages, our staff and artists may choose to share
their preferred pronouns when they introduce themselves
in-person or in their email signatures.

In English, though we may not think much about it, people frequently
refer to us using pronouns like “she”, “his” or “they” rather than
our names. When speaking of a singular human in the third person,
these pronouns usually imply a gender association— such as “he”
to mean someone who is a man/boy or “she” to mean someone who
is a woman/girl.
People often make assumptions about gender based on a person’s
appearance or name. Because this is such a common practice, we may
not stop to consider that these assumptions might not be correct. In fact,
the act of assuming (even if we’re right) may send a potentially harmful
message—that people have to exhibit certain qualities or characteristics
to demonstrate their gender. This may happen even when we are not
conscious of it or intending to cause harm.

Using someone’s preferred personal pronouns is a way to respect
them and create an inclusive environment. Just as it can be hurtful
to call a person a nickname against their will, it can be hurtful to guess
at someone’s pronouns or worse, to actively choose to ignore the way
someone wishes to be known. This may perpetuate the oppressive notion
that intersex, transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people
do not or should not exist.

To learn more about personal pronouns and hear stories from trans
and gender nonconforming people about their lived experiences with
pronouns, please visit www.mypronouns.org.

Adapted from MyProunouns.org