Creating an inclusive and respectful environment for everyone is core to who we are at Studio Lutalica. One way we do this is by including our pronouns in our email signatures and introducing ourselves with our pronouns during work calls. This practice is a reflection of our commitment to intersectional feminism and LGBTQ+ inclusivity, but as we hope this blog shows it’s also just practical and basic professionalism.*

*As outlined in our Manifesto, we’re redefining what it means to be professional 😉.

What are Pronouns?

Pronouns are words we use to refer to people without using their names. They include “I,” “you,” “he/him,” “she/her,” “they/them,” and less common ones like “xe/xem,” “ze/zir,” “ey/em,” and “fae/faer.” It’s just grammar, but using the correct pronouns for someone is a basic form of respect and recognition of their identity.

Why We Use Multiple Pronouns When Introducing Ourselves

When introducing ourselves, we often use multiple pronouns (e.g., “she/her,” “they/them,” “he/him”) to provide clarity and ensure correct usage in various contexts. This is for the sake of:

1. Clarity in Communication: Using multiple pronouns helps others understand how to refer to us in different grammatical contexts. For example, “he” is used as a subject, “him” as an object, “his” as a possessive adjective, and “his” as a possessive pronoun. This eliminates confusion and ensures that people can refer to us correctly in all situations.
2. Avoiding Assumptions: When less common pronouns like “ze/zir” or “xe/xem” are used, not everyone may be familiar with their grammatical forms. By providing multiple pronouns, we help others learn and use them correctly, fostering a more inclusive environment.
3. Normalising Diverse Pronouns: Including multiple pronouns in introductions normalises the practice and encourages others to do the same. This helps create a culture where everyone feels comfortable sharing and using their pronouns, regardless of how common or uncommon they may be.

Why Sharing Pronouns Matters

1. It Promotes Inclusion: Many of our team members, including our founder, identify as a gender different from the one they were assigned at birth. For us, this isn’t just a policy; it’s a lived reality. Sharing pronouns is crucial for fostering an environment where everyone feels seen and respected.
2. Signalling Safety: Sharing pronouns can signal to others that you are a safe person to disclose their pronouns and gender identity to. It reassures others that they can share their identity without fear of judgment or discrimination.
3. It’s Important for Everyone: Most people, whether you’re cis or transgender, have a preferred pronoun. If you’re privileged enough not to experience gender dysphoria, sharing your pronoun is an easy way to normalise the practice and takes the burden off transgender and non-binary individuals to constantly educate and correct others. Just as you would introduce yourself by name, sharing your pronouns ensures no one has to guess your identity.
4. Combatting Misgendering is Proven to Improve Mental Health Outcomes: Misgendering—referring to someone with the wrong pronouns—can be harmful and invalidating. By sharing our pronouns, we actively work against this and promote a culture of respect and understanding. Studies show that using the correct pronouns and chosen names in various contexts reduces depressive symptoms and less suicidal ideation in trans people (eg. Russell et al., 2018).

What To Do If You’re Questioning Your Gender and You Don’t Feel Comfortable Sharing Your Pronouns

While writing this Insight piece, we thought about the problem of declaring your pronouns when you’re in the process of working out where you fit on the gender spectrum. This can be an incredibly difficult and turbulent process and being put on the spot can make it all the more challenging – especially in the workplace.

There’s no easy answer to this, but employers and colleagues should be mindful of this situation and bear in mind that there are good reasons for someone not wanting to disclose their pronouns.

That’s why we advocate for leading by example so that employees are encouraged to share their pronouns, but never forced.

How We Implement This Practice: Leading by Example

As a non-profit agency dedicated to feminist and LGBTQ+ initiatives, we aim to lead by example. Our practices reflect our values, and we hope to inspire others to adopt similar inclusive measures.

At Studio Lutalica, we’ve made a specific email signature template that our employees can choose to use. It looks like this:

Sharing our pronouns is a small step that can make a big difference in how we connect with others. It shows that we are considerate of their identity and experiences.

By normalising the sharing of pronouns, we contribute to creating a safe space where everyone feels seen and respected. This is particularly important for individuals who have faced discrimination or trauma related to their gender identity.

Where Else to Share Your Pronouns

1. Meetings: Start meetings by introducing yourself with your pronouns.
2. Networking Events: Include your pronouns on your name badge or in your introduction.
3. Social Media Profiles: Many platforms now have dedicated fields for pronouns.
4. Job Adverts: Include pronouns for hiring managers and HR contacts. (And try and find out the hiring manager’s pronouns before applying, we’ve had so many job application cover letters addressed to ‘sir or madam,’ when we are neither!)
5. Job Applications: Encourage applicants to share their pronouns if they feel comfortable.

Changing Your Email Signature

Changing your email signature is usually done through your email settings. This is not only an opportunity to add your pronouns but also other helpful pieces of information you’d like at the end of each email, such as your job title, contact information, and links to your social media profiles or website.

How to Change Your Email Signature in Common Email Clients

• Gmail: Go to Settings > See all settings > General > Signature. Add your pronouns and other information, then save changes.
• Outlook: Go to File > Options > Mail > Signatures. Edit your signature to include your pronouns and save.
• Apple Mail: Go to Mail > Preferences > Signatures. Select the account and add your pronouns to the signature.

Interested in creating a branded email signature for your team? Get in touch with use here or email our Business Development Manager Lou (they/them) to find out about our services!

Including pronouns in our email signatures and introducing ourselves with them in work calls is a simple yet powerful way to promote inclusivity and respect. We encourage everyone to join us in this effort to create a more inclusive and empathetic world.