International Pronouns Day is celebrated on the third Wednesday of October (October 16, 2024) each
year. The goal is to educate people about the importance of using the correct pronouns for others, and to make it common practice to respect people’s pronouns.
What You Can Do
With three weeks to go to this year’s commemoration, here are some ways to start celebrating International Pronouns Day now:
- Learn more: Research and educate yourself about pronouns, gendered
language, and inclusive language. - Share your pronouns: Print out a selfie sign, fill in your pronouns, and post it on
social media with the hashtags #MyPronounsAre and #ShareYourPronouns. - Introduce yourself with your pronouns: Make it a habit to introduce yourself with
your pronouns. - Add pronouns to your email signature: A small step that can help empower
others to express themselves.
How We All Learn
- Acknowledge mistakes: If you accidentally misgender someone, apologize and
move forward. - Avoid offensive terms: Never use terms like he-she or it to refer to anyone
unless given explicit permission. - Use gender-inclusive language: Instead of saying “boys and girls” or “ladies and
gentlemen,” you can use terms like folks, friends, staff, colleagues, children,
students.
Why It Matters
Using someone correct pronoun is a way to respect them and create an inclusive environment. It can also contribute to their well-being by reducing harm and trauma.
Here are Some Examples of Pronouns
- Gendered pronouns: He/him/his and she/her/hers
- Gender-neutral pronouns: They/them, ze/zir, and others
- Intensive pronouns: Myself, yourself/yourselves, themself/themselves, herself, himself, oneself, itself, ourselves
- Possessive pronouns: Mine, yours, theirs, his, hers, its, ours
- Interrogative pronouns: What, which, who, whose
- Reciprocal pronouns: Each other, one another
Deanne Rothenberg (she/her)
Vice President of Compliance and Risk Management
Spectrum Health and Human Services
