PRONOUNS

Why are there pronouns in our email signatures?

You may have noticed a new addition to some of our email signatures: Our personal pronouns.

What are pronouns?

Pronouns are the words we use to refer to someone or something instead of using their names. We use pronouns all the time! For example, you might say “This is my friend. She wants to apply to WSU Everett!” In that sentence, “she” is the pronoun.

There are lots of pronouns someone might use, including:

• She/Her/Hers
• He/Him/His
• They/Them/Theirs
• Ze/Hir/Hirs

There are many different personal pronouns in use today!

Many WSU Everett faculty, staff, and students now list their personal pronouns in their email signatures. Why?

WSU Everett actively welcomes our transgender and nonbinary community, coworkers, volunteers, and donors. Sharing our personal pronouns affirms our belief that every person has the right to define their own identity. Putting our personal pronouns in our email signatures is an easy way for us to let people know we honor those definitions and that we want to know their pronouns, too!

This is another small step in WSU Everett’s long tradition of inclusivity. Using names that community members choose for themselves is not new to WSU Everett! At WSU Everett, everyone is welcome.

Including your personal pronouns in your email signature and when you introduce yourself is just one way to make the world – and WSU Everett – a more friendly and welcoming place for trans and non-binary people.

Try it out the next time you introduce yourself! “Hi, my name is _______ and my pronouns are ________. Go Cougs!”