Every year on the third week of October, millions of people around the world recognize International Pronouns Day – a day dedicated to the recognition, affirmation and awareness of how pronouns shape our sense of identity. International Pronouns Day represents an opportunity to illustrate how our notions of language and identity are deeply interrelated. However, even beyond this important message, it represents a time to celebrate the beauty in our extremely diverse human notions of self. The words we use to refer to ourselves and others – he/him, she/her, they/them, ze/zir, and many more – are important affirmations of who we are, and their proper use by others is an integral acknowledgement that others see us as we see ourselves. Pronouns are beautifully diverse because we are beautifully diverse.
As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and the Co-Chair of Ericsson’s LGBTQI+ & Allies Employee Resource Group (ERG) in North America (also known as the Ericsson Pride ERG), I have worked with countless members of my Ericsson family to better understand and educate others on the importance of using pronouns that align with people’s identities. I hope to shed light on what pronouns are, why they are important, and why we at Ericsson are excited to celebrate International Pronouns Day alongside millions of others worldwide.
Pronouns: What they are and why they matter
Pronouns are words that people use in place of their names or the names of others in communication. If you’ve ever had a conversation, thought about yourself or another person, or even read the previous sentence, you’ve likely encountered a variety of pronouns before. The pronouns we use differ depending on the person to whom we refer; in English, for example, the first-person pronouns such as “I” or “we” differ from second- and third- person pronouns such as “you” or “they” respectively. Pronouns such as “he,” “she,” “they,” or “ze” are commonly and historically used third-person pronouns in English language, and many other languages also use words with equivalent meanings or designations.
Historically, many of us have been taught that pronouns correspond to a specific gender identity, and many languages have developed rules that label people and their pronouns to a specific gender. This can sometimes lead us to assume a person’s pronouns. For instance, we may encounter someone that we assume is female, and refer to them as “her” in conversation even though that person is male or non-binary and prefers “him” or “them” instead. Many times, this happens because we’ve assumed their gender. For example, many of us work remotely with colleagues from other countries – communicating entirely on email or Teams. We may not recognize the gender identity typically associated with their name or may make an incorrect assumption. While often done without any intention of harm, assuming someone’s gender can make people feel awkward, sad, or a sense of non-belonging, thereby doing unintentional harm to the people around us.
This seemingly small mistake and the scientifically demonstrated impact that it can have on people is so meaningful because pronouns are a small but extremely significant acknowledgement that we recognize people for who they really are. By educating ourselves about pronouns and taking the time to affirm others by using the pronouns that best correspond to their identity, we are affirming their basic human dignity and respecting their true selves.
Why International Pronouns Day matters at Ericsson, and how we can celebrate it
As a company dedicated to cultivating a culture of empathy and humanness, Ericsson has a decorated history of affirming and supporting employees expressing their true selves in the workplace and beyond. This includes not only a vibrant community of Employee and Business Resource Groups and partnerships in top-tier workplace inclusion organizations such as Out & Equal, but also a perfect 100 score on the Human Rights Center’s Corporate Equality Index for two years running. Recognizing and celebrating days like International Pronouns Day provides yet another opportunity for us in the Ericsson family to champion the values that make us a best-in-class place to work.
So how can we celebrate? The first and most important thing we can do is educate ourselves on pronouns. By taking the time to gain a strong foundation of understanding of how and why pronouns matter – in the workplace and beyond – we are taking the first step toward ensuring that the people around us feel like they belong. Beyond education, celebrate international pronouns day by sharing these resources with others around us and reflecting on how we might better advocate for ourselves and others with these new insights. We might consider starting small by making a habit of introducing ourselves with our pronouns, or adding pronouns to our email signatures – small steps that make big leaps toward empowering others to express their true selves around us. Finally, we can celebrate by acknowledging and learning from our mistakes and becoming better allies and advocates for those around us. No one is perfect, and learning from our mistakes is a natural part of learning how to advocate and affirm others in all walks of life.
It takes an enormous degree of courage to be our true selves. The least we can do for ourselves and others is celebrate that courage with our words and actions in the workplace. On October 19th, I hope we can all take this step together.
