item details
Overview
This pronoun badge enables the wearer to self-identify their pronouns, and works against misgendering which occurs as a result of the dominant gender binary. Grammatical gender in English is usually limited to the third person pronouns she, her and hers, and he, him and his. In our dominant heteronormative system, we determine each other’s pronouns by ‘reading’ bodies as either female or male.
Non-binary trans people have been instrumental in asking people directly how they wish to be pronouned. The most important principle behind checking pronouns is that no-one’s pronouns should be assumed (Zimman 2017, 234). Ideally all people should ask of each other: ‘what pronouns do you use?’
Along with she/her and he/him, this badge represents the most commonly used pronouns.
This badge was produced by RainbowYOUTH which supports queer and gender diverse youth in Aotearoa (https://www.ry.org.nz/who-we-are).
Reference:
Zimman, L. Trans People's Linguistic Self-determination and the Dialogic Nature of Identity. In Hazenberg, E. and Meyerhoff, M. (eds) (2017). Representing Trans: Linguistic, legal and everyday perspectives. Victoria University: Wellington.