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he pronouns we use to describe ourselves are an important part of who we are.
Asking about and correctly using someone’s pronouns is a key way to show your respect their gender identity.
If you use the wrong pronouns, it can make someone feel disrespected, invalidated, dismissed, alienated, or dysphoric.
You can’t always tell someone’s pronouns by looking at them.
She/her/hers and he/him/his are a few commonly used pronouns. Some people call these “female/feminine” and “male/masculine” pronouns, but many avoid these labels because not everyone who uses he feels like a “male” or “masculine.”
There are also lots of gender-neutral pronouns in use. Here are a few you might hear:
It’s okay! Everyone slips up from time to time. The best thing to do if you use the wrong pronoun for someone is to say something right away, like “Sorry, I meant (insert pronoun)”.
If you realize your mistake after the fact, apologize in private and move on.
Wearing a badge that shows your own pronouns is a great way to communicate to your patients that you are aware of this issue and that you respect the pronouns of others.
Download a poster about using pronouns, design for for Leeds Teaching Hospitals (330Kb, pdf format)