What Are the Risks of Assuming the Sharing of Proper Pronouns Is a Best Practice for Trans* Inclusion?
2023
The pervasiveness of giving pronouns within the field of student affairs is likely because our field values personalization and relationship development. Introductions are a necessary part of forming a group dynamic, whether as part of a student organization meeting, an introductory staff meeting, or the first class of the semester. The constellation of gender identities and gender expressions remind us that gender liberation is about finding the language and expression to define our own genders. Pronoun assertion disrupts the idea that our gender identities and expressions are clear from a glance at our bodies. A quick Internet search results in hundreds of what we characterize as quick fix documents, all purporting inclusive strategies for implementation in contexts ranging from student affairs meeting spaces to classrooms. Structural inclusion consists of changes to curriculum, policies, and physical structures that lead to greater gender inclusivity and trans liberation.