CIMSPA adopts gender-neutral pronouns across organisation
Until recently, the only pronouns most people had heard of were the ones associated with the typical gender binary
As the non-binary community have had greater visibility, more people are becoming aware of gender-neutral pronouns such as they/them, and beyond.
CIMSPA will be adding its employees’ pronouns, for those who want to display them, alongside their email signatures, social media profiles, and stating them at the start of meetings.
This is a simple step cisgender people can take to enable those from trans and non-binary communities to feel seen, heard, and recognised.
This is not something that is mandated across the organisation, as there may be trans and non-binary colleagues who don’t feel ready or able to share their pronouns. But we believe as more people begin to display their pronouns, the more people will feel comfortable with sharing them.
“Language is pivotal in shaping our societies, cultural norms, and even how we see, or treat one another,” said Ebrahim Vorajee, CIMSPA’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Sector Lead. “If we can change our language, and through its unconscious bias, we can combat negative attitudes towards gender. As a driver for the sector, CIMSPA can deliver effective change. Focusing on something as simple as inclusive pronouns could encourage more people to find their place within sport and leisure and even consider a career in the sector.”
Traditionally, he/him and she/her are used in most conversations and communications within sport and physical activity. Trans and non-binary people who engage in sport are often misgendered – and at times deliberately.
CIMSPA is using the following list of pronouns:
- Proper name only
- They/Them
- She/Her
- She/They
- He/Him
- He/They
- E/Ey/Em
- Mx. (pr. miks)
- Si/Sie
- Tey/Ter
- Ve/Ver
- Ze/Zim
- Other (please specify)
In our quest for greater inclusion, we greatly encourage our members, partners, and other organisations in the sector to look at ways to increase trans and non-binary visibility across sport and physical activity.
CIMSPA consulted Inclusive Employers, who have been running a variety of training sessions with the team, on the use of pronouns and the appropriate language to use.
You can find out more about them here.