“But that’s not always the case and I can’t control how people will perceive me. “For me, I don’t connect with femininity or masculinity as a static state, which I hope is pretty evident from the way I dress as a form of self-expression,” the publishing professional explains.

This can include those who identify as being between or beyond genders, having no gender, or having no fixed gender. They/them is often (though not exclusively) used by nonbinary individuals. What they/them pronouns mean to professionals who identify with them Here’s what different sets of pronouns mean, in the words of people who use them.

“I’m not out as nonbinary at my current place of employment, but I am interviewing now as my authentic self for the first time,” says one professional working in the publishing industry whose pronouns are they/them. Here are five of the most common member-defined pronouns used on the platform:īy using pronouns accurately and respectfully and fostering a culture where everyone feels comfortable asserting their pronouns, you can make a huge difference in people’s day-to-day experiences at work and show candidates that your company is committed to inclusivity. ( A 2021 study found that 1.2 million U.S. LinkedIn data shows that beyond he/him and she/her, many members have added they/them or a custom set of pronouns to their profiles, indicating that they are nonbinary, neither solely male nor solely female. Normalizing the conversation around pronouns can reduce the chances of this happening - and that starts with understanding what different pronouns mean. But for people whose gender identity doesn’t align with the sex they were assigned at birth, this conversational shorthand can sometimes result in them being misgendered.Įven when it’s done unintentionally, misgendering someone can still be hurtful and alienating. For example, my pronouns are she/her, and you might use them to refer to me instead of repeating my name. Pronouns matter because they’re used to signal one of the most deeply felt aspects of who we are: our gender identity. That’s because LinkedIn has been rolling out, in select countries, the option for members to add their pronouns to their profile to best express their authentic selves. You might have noticed that some LinkedIn members now have their pronouns listed beside their name when you visit their profile.

Pronouns what are they