Gender Neutral and Inclusive Language

What is it good for?

Actually, quite a lot of things.

You know that feeling when you're in a group of people and they're all chatting amongst themselves but kind of ignoring you? And they're not really excluding you as such, but no one is catching your eye and you've tried to fill any gaps but there is just absolutely no space for your input? And you feel like you can't complain because no one has actually pushed you out of the conversation and they're not actively acting like that?

That's how it feels when you're nonbinary and no one around you is implementing gender neutral or inclusive language.

It doesn't feel like much, and people often aren't consciously being exclusive, but it does hurt a little when you don't feel connected to a topic or conversation because of simple things like the use of 'man or woman' instead of 'person', or 'he or she' instead of the singular 'they'.

The European Parliament define gender neutral language as 'a generic term covering the use of non-sexist language, inclusive language or gender-fair language'. It's main goal is to promote inclusion across the workplace, places of education, and general life, as it removes the potential for discrimination, bias, and evokes the idea that there is an implied 'social norm' that people can only exist within.

It can be hard to take not of every little bias in our language, especially if we are not used to the idea of neutral or inclusive language, but just like everything, practice makes perfect! It isn't hard to adjust once you're in the swing of things, and often gender neutral terms like 'people' can replace more wordy terms like 'men and woman', and generally make life a little easier by cutting out the unnecessary.

Teen Vogue did a very helpful article on gender neutral and inclusive language which I will link right here if you fancy a read: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/how-to-use-gender-neutral-words

And for all you employees or employers out there, here is a guide to using LGBTQ Inclusive language in the workplace posted by AIHR: https://www.aihr.com/blog/lgbtq-inclusive-language-in-the-workplace/

    Kermit says gay rights <3

And now, for a little fun, here are some simple gender inclusive ways to address people:

Howdy folks!
It gives pure cowboy energy, and that, I adore. Typical for a casual setting, goes down fairly well with people you know vaguely, and also people you've known for a long time.

Dear Recipient,
My favourite way to start an email to someone I don't know. Gets rid of the clunky 'Dear Sir/Madam' and is still formal enough to be put in a business email.

Partner.
I know you're thinking 'again with the cowboy stuff' but hear me out. We're using partner to replace 'boyfriend' or 'girlfriend'. Some people aren't super comfortable disclosing their sexuality to people they don't entirely know, and don't want to disclose the gender of their partner to strangers, so partner is a very good replacement for 'boy/girlfriend'. It normalises people who aren't within the gender binary being in relationships, and if a large amount of people - even those in typical cis-het relationships - begin to implement it, it takes away from the 'shock' of individuals in 'different' or less typical relationship dynamics.

Plus, it is quite fun to be a cowboy sometimes.

     Matthew Lillard Shaggy also says gay rights <3

That is all from me today! I hope this has helped some of you. There are plenty of resources available to browse if this is something you find new or confusing.

Stay true!
- Bee