Understanding Zee Zay Pronouns
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Washington ExaminerUnderstanding Zee Zay Pronouns
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Washington ExaminerNational Education Association
PRONOUN GUIDE
This is a guide for NEA leaders, members and staff to better understand and use pronouns in a respectful way
for all NEA meetings and communications. Please be aware that some of this advice may not be appropriate
for your school community, depending on current state law; check with your state or local affiliate regarding
questions related to state law or school district policies.
PRONOUNS
Pronouns are words that function in the place of a name. Instead of saying, “My brother Steve is coming to pick me up in Steve’s car,
and we are going to Steve’s favorite restaurant,” a person could instead say, “his car/his favorite restaurant.”
In English, we have two sets of gendered pronouns: “she/her/hers” and “he/him/his” are pronouns that are attached to a particular
gender. Men/males have typically been referred to using he/him/his and women/females by using she/her/hers. We likely all grew
up assuming we knew someone’s pronouns just by looking at them, or knowing their gender, but that isn’t the case. In an effort to be
more affirming of all, it is important to get out of the habit of assuming pronouns.
Plural pronouns are becoming more widely accepted as gender-neutral singular pronouns. It is grammatically correct to use singular
‘they’ to refer a singular person of unknown gender or to a non-binary person who does not feel gendered pronouns work for them.
Here is a list of the most common pronouns used. Always use the pronouns of the individual once they have told you what pronouns
they use. You may see more pronouns outside of this list.
Subjective Objective Possessive Adjective Possessive Pronouns Reflexive Pronunciation
She Her Her Hers Herself
He Him His His Himself
They Them Their Theirs Themselves
Ze Zim Zir Zirs Zirself Zay or Zee
Zim (rhymes with them)
Zir (rhymes with their)
TIPS ON USING GENDER-NEUTRAL PRONOUNS
Chances are that you’ve used ‘they, them, or their’ as neutral pronouns when you weren’t aware of a person’s gender. These pro-
nouns are gender-neutral and are used by some transgender and gender non-conforming people. Recognizing that it’s natural to do
this can help when a nonbinary person asks you to use gender-neutral pronouns for them. The following are examples when you
might have used gender-neutral pronouns without realizing:
➠ You’re at an event, and someone left a key for you, but you can’t find it. You might ask, “Where did they leave the key?”
➠ You are awaiting a delivery from a postal worker and wonder, “When are they dropping off the mail?”
➠ Someone gives your organization a gift, but you didn’t meet the donor. You might say, “Please tell them I said thank you!”
National Education Association
PRONOUN GUIDE
SHARE YOUR PRONOUNS
If we want to get out of the habit of assuming pronouns, we need to learn and let people
introduce their pronouns.
Role model your pronouns before inviting everyone to introduce theirs.
“Hi, my name is Meg and I use she/her/hers pronouns. Could everyone please go around and
share their name and pronouns.”
Explain what pronouns are and why you’re asking people to introduce theirs before you do.
“Hey everyone! So during introductions we are going to introduce our name and pronouns.
Pronouns are words that we use to replace names, like she/her/hers, he/him/his, or they/
them/theirs. I want to make sure that we are referring to each other in the way that feels most
accurate, so we are going to be going around and if everyone could share their name and
pronouns that’d be great!”
A common question and fear that we may have when getting to know someone who has recently changed pronouns or who uses
singular they as their pronoun, is that we will make a mistake and misgender the person.
Apologize briefly and correct yourself. For example, “And I was saying to someone that he’s a really good — sorry, she — that she was a
really good painter.”
Do not over apologize. Over apologizing could sound like, “Oh gosh I am SO SO sorry, I really am. I know it’s wrong and this must
happen all the time. Gosh pronouns are so difficult!” You’re doing a few things when you over apologize. Instead of the moment being
about them, you’ve made it about your feelings.
IT’S ABOUT RESPECT
Positive experiences of social gender affirmation are critical to the health and well-being of transgender and gender diverse people.
Social interactions where a person is addressed by their correct name and pronouns, consistent with their gender identity, are
widely recognized as a basic — yet critical — aspect of gender affirmation. Addressing someone by the wrong name or misgendering
them through the use of incorrect pronouns can feel disrespectful, harmful, and even unsafe to the person being misgendered.
Misgendering results in marginalization and communicates that a person’s identity is not being seen or respected. So, practice using
the pronouns a transgender or nonbinary person requests… yes, even plural ‘they’. It’s a show of respect.
PRONOUN USE IN POLICY
Over the last few years, the transgender community has asked allies to help normalize offering pronouns during introductions,
in education, and the workplace to indicate an understanding of trans identities and show that they are a safe person. As gender
identity and gender expression do not always align, offering pronouns is a way to create a space where people do not need to rely on
assumptions of others’ gender.
However, not everyone is comfortable sharing their pronouns. Some transgender, nonbinary, or questioning individuals might not
be “out” yet or ready to let others know of their trans status. Others might object to sharing for any number of personal reasons.
Respect those who offer to share their pronouns and those who do not. No one should be forced to comply, as long as they simply
skip the practice and do not mock or belittle it.
Offering your pronouns is the simplest way to put things into practice. When you meet someone new, you can say, “Hi, my name is
____ and my pronouns are ____.” If you wear a nametag or ID badge, you can add your pronouns to it. If you cannot alter your official
nametag, it is easy to find pronoun pins in stores and online. When you participate in an online meeting, you can change your name
to include your pronouns in parentheses to the side.
For more information on pronouns and additional LGBTQ+ Resources, please visit the following:
NEA LGBTQ+ Resources | NEA EdJustice | Why Share Your Pronouns?
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Common questions
Powered by AIUsing incorrect pronouns for transgender and gender-diverse individuals can feel disrespectful, harmful, and even unsafe to the person being misgendered. It results in marginalization and communicates that a person’s identity is not being seen or respected .
The use of ‘they/them’ as singular pronouns aligns with modern language practices recognizing gender diversity. Although traditionally plural, ‘they’ is now accepted as a grammatically correct singular pronoun to refer to individuals of unknown gender or those who do not identify with gendered pronouns .
Excessive apologizing for misgendering can shift the focus from the misgendered person to the apologizer’s feelings, making the moment about personal guilt rather than respect for the person’s identity. This can detract from addressing the initial error and affirming the individual properly .
Offering pronouns during introductions creates an environment where assumptions about gender are minimized. It helps normalize the practice of recognizing and respecting diverse gender identities, promoting understanding and acceptance in social and professional settings .
Pronoun use reflects broader societal changes by illustrating a growing recognition of gender as a spectrum rather than a binary construct. The adoption of gender-neutral pronouns and the normalization of self-disclosed pronouns exemplify an increased understanding and acceptance of diverse gender identities in society .
Strategies to remember and use an individual’s correct pronouns consistently include practicing using their pronouns in sentences, keeping a mental or written note, and correcting oneself promptly if a mistake is made. Awareness and mindfulness about language habits can further help in maintaining consistency .
Normalizing pronoun introductions in the workplace signals an understanding and acceptance of trans identities, demonstrating that it is a safe space for diverse gender expressions. This practice supports trans individuals by validating their identities and reducing the likelihood of misgendering .
Respecting individuals who choose not to share their pronouns is crucial because sharing could force them to disclose personal information they are not comfortable with. This respect acknowledges their autonomy and the personal nature of gender identity, fostering an inclusive environment .
When implementing pronoun sharing practices in educational settings, considerations include awareness of state laws and school policies, student comfort, and ensuring that students are not compelled to share pronouns if they are not ready. Creating an inclusive atmosphere while respecting individual choices is critical .
To effectively introduce oneself and normalize pronoun sharing, one can say, “Hi, my name is [Name] and my pronouns are [Pronouns].” Including pronouns on nametags or ID badges, or adding them to your name in virtual meetings, can also help in professional settings .