Why Putting Your Pronouns in Your Bio Helps, Even if You're Not Transgender

If you actively use social media, then you are probably familiar with the concept of people putting pronouns in their social media biographies. If not, below is an example of Vice President Kamala Harris' Twitter biography that show her pronouns are she/her.

Putting your pronouns in your bio can have plenty of benefits. Here is why.

Terminology

There are a few terms that I will be using throughout this article that I will define first.

Cisgender (cis): someone who identifies as the gender they were assigned at birth (not trans).

Transgender (trans): someone who does not identify as the gender they were assigned at birth (not cis).

Non-binary: a gender term that describes those who identify outside of the gender binary (neither male or female).

Pronouns: words used to refer to an individual (she, he, they, me, I, etc).

Gender dysphoria: a feeling of discomfort or even distress one may feel when their gender identify differs from their physical characteristics and sex assigned at birth.

Why do People Put Their Pronouns in Their Bio?

It is a way to avoid getting misgendered. For example, a transgender male who has just discovered who they are and hasn't taken any steps towards transitioning yet could still appear to look female at first glance. However, if one were to assume they were female and use she/her pronouns for that transgender male, they would feel invalidated and could strengthen they effects of their gender dysphoria. That is just one, more simple example of a time where putting pronouns in one's bio is beneficial.

Some people are constantly surrounded by transphobia in real life. This makes social media an escape from the transphobia they face on a day to day basis outside of social media. By going online and putting their pronouns in their bios, people online can feel more welcomed in the trans community. They can meet new trans people, be referred to by their preferred pronouns, and overall have a chance to feel accepted.

Why Should People who are Cisgender do it?

Doing it makes you a good trans ally. Cisgender people, even if they look the gender they were assigned at birth, will still put their pronouns in their bios to show their support for the transgender community. When a cisgender person puts their pronouns in their bio, it shows to a transgender person that they will support them and that they can feel safer with them talking to them about being transgender.

It helps normalize sharing your pronouns. The more people that do it, the more normal it becomes. Many transphobic internet users will see pronouns in a bio and use it as an invitation to be transphobic towards that person. When something becomes normalized, less people will harass others for it.

Do I Have to Put my Pronouns in my Bio?

No! It doesn't matter if you are transgender or cisgender, you do not have to add your pronouns to your bio if you are uncomfortable doing so! It is all about what makes you comfortable.

What are some Examples of Pronouns?

Gender is fluid. A common misconception is that sex and gender are the same thing, when they are not. Sex relates to biological attributes whereas gender deals with how you choose to identify and present yourself. This means that there is a plethora of pronouns you could add to your bio. Some include: she/her, he/him, they/them, she/they, he/they, xe/xem, and a lot more. People who use they/them pronouns are likely identifying as non-binary, and these pronouns can be used similarly to the way we refer to someone when we are unaware of their gender.

Example:

Someone online commented on my video saying that they think I'm funny! Aw, that's so sweet of them to say.

When you see a set of pronouns that seem to show two genders, like she/they, this means that you could use either she or they. There are also neopronouns, which are gender neutral (like they/them, but different). Some examples are xe/xem/xyr, ze/hir/hirs, and ey/em/eir. There are also nounself pronouns people like to use, which are pronouns that use nouns. Examples are: kitten/kittenself, vamp/vampself, and more.

Although some of these pronouns can seem a little crazy or hard to process, they are a way for somebody to figure out who they are and how they wish to identify. If you are uncomfortable using certain pronouns, like the nounself pronouns or neopronouns, then it is best to leave that person alone and allow them some space (or ask politely if there are other pronouns they'd be okay with you using), instead of ridiculing them for using pronouns like that.

Identity can be a vulnerable thing to share and it can be very hard for someone to figure it out. If someone declares that they want to use pronouns that you do not understand, it isn't hard to show them respect and ask them about it.

Final Thoughts

Whether or not your are transgender, putting your pronouns in your bio can be a beneficial thing to do. It will prevent you from getting misgendered, help you show your support for transgender people (or, if you are transgender, display your new identity proudly), and make others feel safe discussing topics like gender with you. Obviously, if you are uncomfortable sharing your pronouns, you do not have to!

Everyone has pronouns they are referred to as, but displaying it in this way can make people feel safer on social media.

Happy Pride Month!