Have you ever seen gender pronouns on a name tag or in an email signature and wondered why they were there or what they mean? Pronouns are often used in place of one’s name. Examples of pronouns include she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, ze/hir/hirs, per/per/pers, etc. Using someone’s correct pronouns is one of the best ways to show respect to that person. Many people include their pronouns in their email signature, on their Zoom profile, and share them during their introductions so people know how to refer to them without making assumptions based on their appearance or name.
If you are unsure of someone’s pronouns, you could ask them how they would like to be addressed or referred to. You could also say something similar to the following example: “Hi, my name is Sam, and I use they, them, and their pronouns. How about you?” If someone chooses to not share their pronouns with you, that is fine as well, and you should not force a response from them. In this situation, you should refer to them by their name. If you mistakenly misgender someone it is important to recognize everyone will respond differently to this. As soon as you realize you have made this mistake, be sure to apologize and assure them that you will get it right next time.
To learn more about gender pronouns, how to use them properly, and why they matter, please review the resources listed below.
Resources
UW-Madison Gender and Sexuality Campus Center (GSCC)
- GSCC Pronoun-guide (PDF)
- Pronouns Matter – Gender and Sexuality Campus Center – UW–Madison (wisc.edu)
UW-Madison Writing Center
Other
- What are Gender Pronouns? Why Do They Matter?
- Pronouns.org Resources on Personal Pronouns
- Pronouns / Minus18
Upcoming Holidays & Observances
- 10/31/2024: All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween) – a celebration observed in several countries on the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day. It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed.
- 10/31/2024: Reformation Day – a Protestant Christian religious holiday celebrated alongside All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween) during the triduum of Allhallowtide in remembrance of the onset of the Reformation.
- 10/31/2024: Bandi-Chhor Diwas (Sikh) – A commemorative occasion having no fixed date which occurs in October or November and celebrates the release of the Sixth Guru Har Gobind Sahib from imprisonment and coincides with Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.
- 10/31/2024 – 11/1/2024: (sundown to sundown) Samhain (Pagan) – a Gaelic, Pagan, and Wiccan festival marking the end of the harvest season and a celebration of the dead and ancestors.
- 11/1/2024: Diwali (Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists) – also known as Divali or Deepavali, is a five-day festival of lights among Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists that celebrates new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and lightness over darkness.
- 11/1/2024: All Saints’ Day (Christian) – a Christian holiday commemorating all known and unknown Christian saints. In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the day is observed on the first Sunday after Pentecost.
- 11/2/2024: All Souls’ Day (Christian) – a Christian holiday commemorating all faithful Christians who are now dead. In the Mexican tradition, the holiday is celebrated as Dia de los Muertos (October 31–November 2), which is a time of remembrance for dead ancestors and a celebration of the continuity of life.
- 11/2/2024: (sundown to sundown) Birth of Báb (Bahá’í Faith) – a Bahá’í holiday celebrating the birth of the prophet Báb.
- 11/3/2024: Birth of Baha’u’llah (Bahá’í Faith) – Bahá’í celebration of the birth of their founder and teacher.