Pronouns 101

Pronouns. You may have seen them being used more and more often in people’s email signatures, on LinkedIn accounts, social media profiles, Zoom names, meetings, and certainly in interactions with folks in your day-to-day lives. 

We invite you to think about what inclusion means when it comes to respecting others’ pronouns so that we can make space for everyone to feel included, valued, and respected. This is something so many of us strive for but don’t always know how to do effectively or appropriately.

Basics of Pronoun Use

In early March 2023, the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in collaboration with Quinn Bennett from People and Culture, hosted two live sessions for Langara employees around the basics of pronoun use.

Session recording

Pronouns 101 Workshop Slides

Please note that the recording explains more thoroughly and goes into much more detail than the PDF of the slides. We recommend not relying solely on this PDF for your understanding.

*The Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion was previously known as The Centre for Intercultural Engagement.

If you have any comments or additional information you’d like to share with us, questions can be sent directly to our office at edioffice@langara.ca.

Curated Resources

We are aware this is not an exhaustive list and welcome input from the community. If you have suggestions for articles, podcasts, webinars, events, etc., we invite you to contact our office at edioffice@langara.ca.

For more resources, visit our 2SLGBTQIA+ page.

Useful websites

Why it matters

How to share & how to ask 


Making mistakes 

Other Useful Websites

Videos

Why it matters 

How to share & how to ask  

Best practices for pronouns  

They/Them Pronoun Tips 

Articles

 'I Can Exist Here': On Gender Identity, Some Colleges Are Opening Up  (NPR)

  • Take a look at a class roster at the University of Vermont. You'll see the usual stuff there — last name, student ID and class year. But you'll also see something else. Next to some names, there are pronouns: "he" or "she," but also the gender nonspecific "they" or "ze." They may seem like a few more words on paper, but for some students, like Jeane Robles, having pronouns on the roster means a lot.

Using Inclusive Language in the Workplace: An Introduction  (Wellness Works Canada)

  • Engaging employees in initiatives surrounding their health, safety, and well-being helps ensure that their needs are being appropriately addressed. One way to promote effective collaboration and show respect is to encourage the use of inclusive language in the workplace. 

‘Trans-forming’ the Workplace to Be Transgender Inclusive  (Standford Social Innovation Review)

  • Transgender and gender-nonconforming people often run into unnecessary barriers that make their jobs harder than they need to be. Here are 10 actions that social sector organizations can take to help.

Your Journey - A Career Guide for Trans and Nonbinary Students  (University of Toronto)

  • This guide aims to help trans and nonbinary students and recent alumni to figure out their career possibilities, connect to resources, effectively apply for jobs, and excel in their career. There are questions that this guide won’t be able to answer, but the hope is that it provides you with a solid starting point for taking the next steps in your career
Podcasts

Pronouns and Gender Identity: A Better Workplace  

  • DEI consultant Stephanie Battaglino speaks with Jane and Colin about the challenges trans and gender non-conforming communities face in and out of the workplace. They discuss practical steps each of us can take to be better allies and make our workplaces more inclusive. 

Improve It! Podcast: How to Support Your Transgender Employees 

  • DEI consultant Tara Robertson joins the show to discuss strategies for supporting trans and nonbinary employees.
Additional resources

Pronouns: A resource supporting transgender and gender nonconforming (gnc) educators and students  (GLSEN)

  • You may have noticed that people are sharing their pronouns in introductions, on nametags, and when GSA meetings begin. This is happening to make spaces more inclusive of transgender, gender nonconforming, and gender non-binary people. Including pronouns is a first step toward respecting people’s gender identity, working against cisnormativity, and creating a more welcoming space for people of all genders

Gender Inclusive Language Cards  (QMUNITY)

  • Shifting to gender-inclusive language respects and acknowledges the gender identities of all people and removes assumptions.