In recent years, adding pronouns to email signatures has become a common practice among people who want to show their support for gender diversity and inclusion. While some may see this as a small or insignificant gesture, others believe the practice to be unnecessary and even bothersome.
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For the past couple of years, I’ve spent a lot of time wondering whether I should add my pronouns to as many places as I can. In practice, it sounds like an easy thing to do, but the fact that most people I work with don’t do it makes me feel weird and out of place.
I’m writing this post to remind myself why doing so makes a difference. Maybe someone else who’s yet to include pronouns in their social media profiles or signature reads this and finds the courage to start doing it as well.
Here are several important reasons (I can think of) why adding pronouns to your email signature is actually important.
1. It Respects Gender Diversity
One of the most important reasons to include pronouns in your email signature is that it respects and acknowledges gender diversity. By including them, you are signaling that you do not assume someone’s gender based on their name or appearance, and that you respect and acknowledge the gender identities and expressions of all individuals.
2. It Avoids Misgendering
Using the wrong pronoun can be hurtful and disrespectful, particularly to transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. Including your them in your email signature can help reduce the likelihood of misgendering someone, as it encourages others to do the same and signals that you take gender identity and expression seriously.
3. It Creates a Safe and Inclusive Environment
Including pronouns in your email signature can also help create a more inclusive and welcoming environment, particularly for transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. It can signal to others that you value diversity and are committed to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone, regardless of their gender identity or expression.
4. It Normalizes the Practice
By including your pronouns in your email signature, you can help normalize the practice and encourage others to do the same. This can help reduce the stigma around discussing gender identity and expression and make it easier for people to express themselves.
How to Add Pronouns to Your Gmail Signature
Adding pronouns to your email signature is easy and can be done in just a few steps. Here’s how:
- Open Gmail and click on the gear icon located in the top right corner of the screen.
- Select “See all settings” from the dropdown menu.
- Scroll down to the “Signature” section.
- Enter your signature in the text box. You can include your name, job title, contact information, and of course, your pronouns.
- You can format the text using the formatting tools provided in the signature editor, such as bold, italics, and bullet points.
- You can also add an image to your signature by clicking on the “Insert Image” button in the formatting toolbar.
- Once you are done, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click “Save Changes” to apply your signature to all outgoing emails.
- Test your email signature to make sure it looks the way you want it to. Your signature should now be added to the bottom of all new emails you compose in Gmail.
If you’d like to know how to do this in Outlook, this article might be helpful: Create an Email Signature.
Adding pronouns to your email signature is a small but powerful way to show your support for gender diversity and inclusion. By doing so, you can help create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all individuals, particularly transgender and gender non-conforming individuals.
So why not give it a try? It’s a simple gesture that can make a big difference.
Like always, until next time,
Danny Bribiesca
Disclaimer: I’d like to make something clear. I can only imagine what my trans and gender non-conforming friends go through. I am a cis male so I can only speak from my perspective. I am always trying to learn and improve myself. So, If you’re a trans or gender non-conforming person who has some insight to share, please do so through my contact page. Thank you!
