GRSJ224/Gender Neutrality

Definition

Gender neutrality (or gender neutral) means neither assigning a female nor a male gender to a person. This includes using gender neutral language such as they instead of he/she, designating bathrooms for any gender, and not identifying nurseries or children with colours associated with being male (blue) or female (pink). Gender neutrality aims to avoid stereotyping and discrimination.

Gender-Neutral Language

Pronouns define who we are and how we wish to be regarded in the world. Gender neutral language primarily refers to replacing the third person singular personal pronouns including he, she, his, hers with the plural forms they, their, themselves, etc. The use of plural pronouns were used in the 16th century and were common in the 19th century. For example, Charles Dickens wrote in the plural, “Whenever a person says to you that they are as innocent as can be in all concerning money, look well after your own money, for they are dead certain to collar it, if they can”.

The use of Ms., which does not identify a woman’s marital status, was proposed around 1901. Before the 1960s, it was acceptable to use masculine pronouns to refer to a person of any sex. However, the feminist movement brought language out as a form of discrimination. It has become commonplace to use gender-neutral job titles such as firefighter, flight attendant, and postal worker. Gendered pronouns don’t have to disappear completely, but instead can still be used when a person identifies their pronoun preference. Gender neutral pronouns can be used when a person’s gender isn’t known, a person wants to be referred to as gender-neutral or when it’s unnecessary to define a person’s gender.

Eight new pronouns from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee LGBT Resource Center created a card in 2011 that is in use in the US. One side of the card lists eight pronouns that people can substitute for gender-defined ones. For example, instead of using himself, someone can use eirself. The other side of the card is a practice area where people can apply the different pronouns.

Indigenous Use of Gender-Neutral Language

Gender-neutrality was used in many indigenous cultures, and was “only interrupted at contact with Europeans” as well as in residential school were gender roles were forced. In some indigenous communities “two-spirited” people were seen as “special and powerful” and sometimes regarded as “medicine people or healers”. Examples of gender-neutral language in indigenous communities include:

• The Anishinaabemowin used “child, sibling or parent” instead of “sister, brother, or mother”.
• In Cree, “aayahkwew” means “neither man nor woman.”
• In Inuktitut, “sipiniq” means “infant whose sex changes at birth.”
• In Kanien’keha, or Mohawk language, “onón:wat” means “I have the pattern of two spirits inside my body.”

Issues with Gender Neutral Language

Part of the reason gender neutral personal pronouns haven’t been accepted into the English-speaking daily language is because it can be hard to learn or pronounce. It also violates grammar rules, for example, the use of they as a singular pronoun. The International Journal of Transgenderism (IJT) believe that by establishing a system for the use of gender neutral pronouns, it will encourage its mainstream use. For example, using Mx for both Mr., Miss, Ms., and Mrs. Another proposal is to substitute the use of mezz (a made-up word) for sir or madam.

Another issue is convenience at the expense of inconsistency as shown in the example: “I cannot urge this bargain version too strongly on anyone who loves this work, even if he or she already has another performance in their collection” (Gramophone, 1995). Making the whole sentence plural is a possibility but can also make comprehension unclear. For example, “on all those who love this work, even if they already have another performance in their collection”. Made up forms including s/he, hesh, wself, and themself are rarely used because they are difficult to pronounce and are only possible in writing. For example, “Someone in a neutral mood can devote themself solely to problem solving” (Independent, 1995).

Gender-Neutral Bathrooms

Ivan Coyote

Ivan Coyote is a Canadian writer and performer who advocates for gender-neutral bathrooms. In 2015, they did a TED talk on the subject entitled Why we need gender-neutral bathrooms. Coyote says in their lecture that, “As a trans person who doesn't fit neatly into the gender binary, if I could change the world tomorrow to make it easier for me to navigate, the very first thing I would do is blink and create single stall, gender-neutral bathrooms in all public places,” They have been physically and verbally abused themselves when trying to use a public washroom. A big reason why Coyote talks about gender-neutral bathrooms is because of trans children being harassed as they don’t fit into a particular gender. “They drop out of school, or they opt out of life altogether.”

Gender neutral washroom sign at Vancouver City Hall

In 2017, the City of Vancouver adopted gender-neutral washroom signs in their building as well as added Trans people welcome

Trans People Welcome washroom sign at Vancouver City Hall

on traditional men's and women's washrooms and change rooms. While not completely gender-neutral, it is a major shift from a narrowly defined gender mentality to one of inclusion. “This change encourages all individuals to access the most appropriate and safe washroom facility based on how they identify their gender, demonstrates support from the City and raises awareness to the general public”. The City of Vancouver believes that, “Everyone has the right to safe and inclusive washroom facilities. This change is another step forward towards ensuring equality and inclusion for all.”

The Vancouver Park board and Vancouver Board of Education recommends “making single stall gender-neutral washrooms at all schools and worksites." There are already many washrooms at childcare facilities that are not segregated by gender and single-stall washrooms for employees with the sign, “Staff Washroom”.

Mainstream Use of Gender-Neutrality

Canadian and American culture is beginning to include gender-neutrality. For example, the app Yelp that helps people find local businesses, now has a search function for people to find gender neutral bathrooms

Access to preventive medical treatments sometimes need to be gender-neutral. The Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) writes that the Human papillomavirus (HPV) “doesn’t discriminate based on gender and neither should policy-makers” Prince Edward Island, Alberta and Nova Scotia introduced the HPV vaccination for boys, but the majority of Canadian provinces continue to immunize only girls, citing the high cost. By vaccinating boys, it may prevent future cancers that they could develop later in life. Health experts believe that the decision to vaccinate boys “should be based on fairness, not finances”.