The importance of pronouns

 

Hi Charlie !

 

For my first article I wanted to talk about something important to me so of course this is related (somehow) to the LGBTQ+ community !

 

Today we’ll talk about pronouns and their importance. But first you may ask, what are pronouns ?

We all have learned it at school, it's a little word you use to reffer to someone or something. When you refer to someone you usually use she/her, he/him and they/them but they're not the only ones that exist they're also neo pronouns and others. Oh and it's totally valid to be comfortable with more than one "type" of pronouns you absolutely can go by she/them for exemple.

If you don't know how to use some pronouns this could help you! (these aren't all the ones that exists)

 

 So yeah, we all have pronouns but do you know why it’s important to ask for someone prounouns instead of assuming or why you should have them on your profile in all socIal medias ?

First we’re gonna talk about the importance of having them on all your social medias’ profiles. Earlier I said this article was related to the LGBTQ+ community so this is why : at first trans people put their prounouns to avoid being misgendered but there’s a little problem. Because of that it was easy for transphobic people to find transgenders and misgender them, say mean things (that's totally stupid I agree). So, we have to normalize putting our pronouns to help them and just because it sucks to be misgendered even if you’re cis.

 

When I talk about trans poeple I talk about the whole spectrum so it includes people who identify as genderqueer, gender fluid, demi girl, demi boy, agender, a trans man or woman or others.

(If you don’t really understand the trans spectrum this could help you)

 

Also when you meet someone, ask for their pronouns don’t just assume it’s disrespectful and it can hurt people ! But don’t just say « What are your pronouns ? » always say yours before !! So it looks more like that : « I go by they/them and you, what are your pronouns ? ».

 

So yeah I think it’s all ! I hope I was clear and that you understood all the things I said, if you’re confused about anything just ask me and I’ll try my best to help you. Also if i made any mistake please correct me ! J

 

Never forget that you’re valid whatever your pronouns, ily have a good day and please smile you’re beautiful !!!

 

PS : My pronouns are she/her.

PS 2 : This video is really great so if you need more details watch it!

Gender

Hello Charlie !

So, I feel like it's time for a new article on LGBT issues ! This time, instead of trying to define a few labels, I'm going to try to talk about gender.

What people think gender is.

So gender is, in most people's minds, the same thing as biological sex. Turns out, it's not ! Gender is varied,gender is a spectrum, gender can change. Gender is not controlled by anyone.

OK, most people are cisgender, which means your gender and your biological sex are both "female" or "male". But, not everyone is !

An attempt to represent the vast concept of gender.

Let's start with the simplest cases : people with a body assigned one of these two options who feel their gender is the other option. Those people are valid, it is important to respect the pronouns and/or names they tell you to use. Please respect them, because it's already hard enough dealing with the feeling to have a "wrong" body.

However, as I mentioned before, these are not the only cases ! Indeed, some people are agender. They don't feel like they belong in any of the gender boxes, and just like before, it is very important to respect them.

Other people can be bigender, which means they feel they have two genders, or trigender, or pangender. Some can identify only vaguely to a gender. Some are genderfluid and their gender fluctuates depending on days.

Picture from http://culturewaves.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Gender.png
The mind-meld gender is.

But after all, we are all human beings, and should all be respected for who we are, no matter our gender, biological sex, or anything else. We are all complete, each in our own way, and why should we limit ourselves to something so restrictive as gender ? What is even gender ?

I don't know, and I am dreaming of a world where it does not exist.

Judith

PS : in case anyone who doesn't remember last years' LGBT article or wasn't here to see it *wink wink to the secondes*, here's the link : http://oibstcharles.blogspot.fr/2015/01/the-queer-community.html