LBCC Community: Personal Pronoun Guide

What are personal pronouns? Why are pronouns important? ∙ Pronouns are the words that an individual would like ∙ Affirms students’ identity by recognizing: others to use when talking to or about him/her/them. “students for who they are, which is also true for ∙ Pronouns are used in relation to gender which has to do using students’ preferred names. Most of us want with how a person identifies. One’s gender identity can be to be called by our preferred name and recognized the same as or different from one's sex assigned at birth. correctly as male, female or non-binary [gender queer or anyone else in the gender spectrum] by ∙ Refer to this list of pronouns and their use for further those who use pronouns or honorifics to refer to us” guidance by Vanderbilt University: (https://universitylife.columbia.edu/pronouns-faq-staff) https://www.vanderbilt.edu/lgbtqi/resources/pronoun-guidance. ∙ Creates an inclusive educational environment ∙ Prevents assumptions and minimizes unintended harm ∙ For more information, watch this video How can I support “Why Gender Pronouns Matter” the use of Pronouns? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iKHjl5xAaA Suggestions for daily use adapted from Vanderbilt University

Create Introduce Honor gender Acknowledge opportunities for yourself with your identity in and out when you make all individuals pronouns of the classroom a mistake and be to identify their courageous to Strategy gender pronouns rectify it

A. Encourage students A. “Hi, my name is A. Example: When A. Apologize to the to list their pronouns Joe Smith and my introducing a student individual even if in Name Coach before pronouns are they, to another person, say attention was not the semester begins them, and theirs.” “I would like you to drawn to the mistake. or in the early weeks of B. Include your meet Joe Smith. Their B. “I am sorry I the semester pronouns in your pronouns are they, misgendered you

Application B. Include a statement email signature them, theirs.” because I know that in your syllabus. C. Add your pronouns you use she/her/hers.” Example: “I honor to your profile name C. If corrected, say chosen names and in Zoom “thank you” and move pronouns. Please let on, as to not burden me know as early the person with as possible through your mistake Name Coach or email so that you are addressed according to your identity.”

How to learn more ∙ Pronouns in Our Community, a short guide, offers ∙ MyPronouns.Org provides general information about definitions and educational resources for Columbia personal pronouns and why they matter: University faculty to learn more about pronoun usage https://www.mypronouns.org/ by students. ∙ Report on Inclusion of Transgender and Gender https://universitylife.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/content/ Fluid Students Best Practices, Assessment and pronouns_in_our_community_guide_december_19_1.pdf Recommendations by Mills College is slightly dated, ∙ This lesson plan from the New York Times helps faculty but offers good advice. facilitate pronoun and gender identity discussions in ∙ https://www.smith.edu/admission/studygroup/docs/Mills-College- the classroom: Report-on-Inclusion-of-Transgender-and-Gender-Fluid-Students- https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/05/learning/nonbinary- Best-Practices-Assessment-and-Recommendations.pdf gender-pronouns-colleges-universities.html

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