


Gender pronouns aren’t only for transgendered or non-binary people, but they can be applied to cisgendered people as well. The gender they tell you might not be the same as their appearance if they look typically female or male, but it’s important that you listen to what each person tells you as opposed to your assumptions based on physical traits like how they dress or style their hair. When someone tells you “my pronouns are…” then they are signaling that this is the gender they want to be addressed as moving forward in all forms of communication. Still, using someone’s gender pronouns shouldn’t be something that is contingent on having “the full picture.” It’s a sign of respect, understanding, and inclusivity, and can also greatly impact how your business is perceived by others. Of course, if the person you’re speaking to is a friend or a close work colleague and they are open to discussing it, you can ask to learn more about their personal reasons or experience. At the end of the day, though, the specific reasons or feelings being someone else’s gender aren’t really of your concern as a business owner or representative of a business. There are countless different reasons why someone may not identify with the gender they were born with.

What does it mean when someone says “my pronouns are?”
