Gender Pronouns - a handy guide for all of us

As an inclusive and diverse college, we recognise that some people may not identify with the pronouns they were given at birth and prefer to be identified in a different way. So, when dealing with another person, be it a fellow Coleg Gwent learner, member of staff, or an external individual, it’s considerate to address them properly.

We support the use of pronouns in our college community because although it might not matter to you, it might matter very much to someone else, and we want to show our allyship and make everyone feel respected and comfortable to be themselves at Coleg Gwent. So, as it’s Pride Month, we’ve created a handy guide to help you understand how to use the right pronouns for anyone you come into contact with and to make it as easy as possible.

Adding gender pronouns next to your name when signing off your contact details in an email signature or LinkedIn profile, is a simple way to show your allyship. You don’t need to add anything overcomplicated or explanatory, just a simple addition of your pronouns will be enough for others to know how to address you in future. It takes little effort on your part and demonstrates that you’re open to conversations about gender, and even if it doesn’t matter to you, it matters to someone and that’s why it’s so important.

Gender pronouns explained

Here are a few terms and their definitions you might find helpful:

• Cisgender: an individual who identifies with and gender corresponds to the sex they were born with.
• Non-binary: an individual who doesn’t identify as male or female to categorise their gender.
• Transgender: An individual who expresses their gender and identifies themselves as something other than the sex they were born with.
• Preferred pronouns: the pronouns that an individual would like to be addressed as.
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There are actually dozens of different sets of gender pronouns someone might use, but these three remain the most common:

• He/him/his: used for someone who says they identify as male or masculine.
• She/her/hers: used for someone who says they identify as female or feminine.
• They/them/theirs: used for someone who doesn’t particularly identify with neither female nor male pronouns. These pronouns are generally regarded as gender-neutral and are used in the singular form.

Find out more about how we ensure our college is diverse, welcoming and inclusive for all, and apply now to join our Coleg Gwent community this September.