To the Editor:

As many readers are probably aware, many professors and college officials refer to gathered groups collectively as “ladies.” Although this may be true for some gatherings, this is definitely not a universally applicable term of address.

Gender neutral language is something that seems to come naturally–except when it matters. People will mention that they have a friend, and “they’re really into Mason Jennings.” It seems that few people grasp that when they are referring to an individual they know nothing about, “they” is typically the pronoun they utilize. But mention that a student wants to be referred to as “they” rather than “he” or “she,” and suddenly everyone gets uncomfortable.

However, the universal “he” is outdated, “he or she” is a little bit cumbersome, but “they” is clear within context, given that the speaker is clear enough. Complaints that using “they” is not grammatically correct is not a valid argument in virtually any way. For one thing, language is mutable. More importantly, utilizing pronouns that everyone is familiar with leads to more inclusion, which is beneficial for everyone.

When speaking about a given individual, unless they have specifically mentioned their pronouns, use “they.” When addressing groups, use “everyone” and other variants. Inclusion in language is important.

Sincerely,
Katie Sittig-Boyd