How can I communicate gender-inclusively?
Gender-sensitive, gender-inclusive, gender-neutral or gendered language ensures that everyone, with any gender experience, can feel addressed, welcomed and represented. Gender-inclusive communication contributes to reducing gender stereotypes and promotes gender equality. We list a number of tips.
Do you want to be addressed as ‘he/him’, ‘she/her’, ‘they/them/their’, a neo-pronoun* or a combination of different pronouns? Put it in your e-mail signature. This way, the person you communicate with via e-mail immediately knows which pronouns you use and can take this into account when referring to you – or when you meet up later. It encourages your conversation partner to share their own pronouns with you.
*These are proposals for new pronouns for non-binary people, such as ze, hir, zir,…
It’s common to do a name round during group discussions. This allows you to easily ask everyone in the circle to also share their pronouns. By introducing this gender-inclusive language yourself, trans and non-binary people will feel safer.
A side note: for some searching (trans) people it’s not always clear which pronouns are preferred, so don’t oblige anyone to share this, and take into account that a person’s pronouns can change regularly.
Get into the habit of introducing yourself by your name and pronouns. When you take the lead, the other party will feel invited to share their own pronouns. If they don’t do so, you can always ask.
When you address multiple people in your e-mail, it is best to use neutral terms of address, such as ‘Dear Readers’, ‘Dear Interested Parties’, ‘Dear Colleagues’, ‘Dear Invited Guests’. Or focused on the arts sector: ‘Dear Artists’ and ‘Dear Art Workers’.
When addressing a non-binary person, or a person whose gender you don’t know, use “Dear + first name + last name’.
Official documents may contain the deadname* of a trans person. This is the name given at birth, and not the name the person uses in their daily lives. Sometimes it is administratively necessary to use this name. Make sure that this name is spread as little as possible, and talk about it with the person whose deadname you need to use – they probably also have a specific preference.
*A deadname is the first name that someone was given at birth, or the name that someone used in the past, before the name was consciously changed.
