Be Proud of your Pronouns - How to make your pronouns more visible
February is LGBT History Month and to mark this we’re launching our ‘Be Proud of your Pronouns’ campaign to help highlight the ways we can make Beds a more welcoming place for transgender and non-binary colleagues and students.
Following the examples that have been set in other parts of the higher education sector and in businesses across the country, we are encouraging everyone across the university to proudly display their pronouns.
Displaying your pronouns is a voluntary choice that can go a long way to ensure that your colleagues and students feel safe and respected while at Beds. Together we can break down the stigma around gender identity and help everyone feel safe and secure in their work and studies.
If you’re not comfortable sharing your pronouns or don’t want to display them that’s completely fine. No one should feel pressured to share them if they don’t want to or don’t feel comfortable.
Making your pronouns more visible isn't hard, it can be as simple as adding them to your email signature, social media profile or just introducing yourself with them during meetings.
Why is it important to use the correct pronouns?
Asking and correctly using someone’s pronouns is a way to respect someone’s gender identity and make them feel included and respected.
How do I ask for someone’s pronouns or share my own?
During a meeting you may choose to introduce yourself by saying your name and pronouns. E.g. ‘I’m …. And my pronouns are He/Him’ or ‘Hi, I’m …. And I use they/them pronouns’. This not only informs everyone at the meeting about how to refer to you, but it also opens the door for others to share as well. Remember that you can’t assume someone’s pronouns, so introducing your own pronouns can help break the ice and encourage others to share as well.
Try not to single out one person when asking about pronouns, ask everyone.
Additionally you can add your pronouns to your name on teams so that they are always visible during meetings. Zoom has a handy guide on how to add your pronouns.
When adding pronouns to your email signature there's a number of different ways to do it so best to just use whatever one you like the most. By adding them to your signature, this allows anyone receiving an email from you to know how to refer to you.
For example:
Next to your name
John Doe (He, Him, His)
Job Role
University of Bedfordshire
Under your name
John Doe
Pronouns (He, Him, His)
Job role
University of Bedfordshire
Or Under your signature
John Doe
Job role
University of Bedfordshire
Pronouns (He, Him, His)