Pronouns: why they’re important

The first meeting of the Library’s Gender and LGBTQ+ Forum was held recently as part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. This commitment is a core aim of the Library’s Strategic Plan for 2021-2026 and supports the Welsh Government’s well-being objectives. The Library exists for the benefit of all.

We look forward to sharing more of the Forum’s work in the future. Thanks to Llinos Evans of the Education Service for sharing their experience of working recently at the Urdd National Eisteddfod and the importance of pronouns.

I’m non-binary, which means that I don’t identify with the sex I was assigned at birth. Because my gender identity doesn’t relate to the traditional binary choice of ‘man’ or ‘woman’, I use the pronouns ‘they’ and ‘them’. If you identify with the sex assigned to you at birth, you are cisgender.

The culture now that everyone – cisgender and trans people – includes pronouns on, for example, emails or badges is becoming increasingly common and is to be applauded. In doing so, it normalises discussions about gender, and ensures that trans and non-binary communities are in safe spaces.

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The Education Service attended the Urdd Eisteddfod this year but, for the first time, with badges stating which pronouns we prefer using when referring to ourselves (he/him, she/her, they/them). This is something simple and important that demonstrates our attempts to create a workplace, and a society more generally, that is more inclusive. A workplace that says no to transphobia.

From personal experience, it makes a difference knowing that I can be open about who I am in all aspects of my life. Whether you believe that pronouns are significant or not – remember, they are important and do make a difference.

Terms

• Sex: people are assigned a sex based on the basic characteristics of sex
• Gender: different to sex, gender is assigned through culture
• Non-binary: people who do not see themselves fitting in to the choice of ‘man’ and ‘woman’
• Trans: an umbrella term that represents people whose gender does not match the sex they were assigned at birth (non-binary/genderqueer/transgender).

This post is also available in: Welsh