PRONOUNS

RESPECT THROUGH LANGUAGE.

We want every WMG employee to be respected, seen, and valued for who they are—and that starts with using the right pronouns.

Here's a resource for learning more about gender identity and pronouns:

What are pronouns?

  • Think about the last time you told a story about a friend. You might’ve said something like “My friend Andre went to that concert. He said it was great.”

    In this case, “he” is a pronoun being used in place of “Andre.” Pronouns are how we refer to someone in the third-person. When we’re talking about one person, make assumptions about people’s gender based on their appearance, name, or voice, and assign pronouns accordingly. (e.g. “he” in reference to a man, or “she” when speaking about someone we perceive as a woman).

    However, these characteristics can’t confirm someone’s gender — and you shouldn’t assume what personal pronouns they use, either.

What are some pronouns used in English?

  • People may use they/them pronouns because they don’t identify exclusively with a binary gender (e.g. man/woman), instead identifying as nonbinary, genderqueer, agender, bigender, fluid, or two-spirit. Or, they might just prefer to not indicate their gender with their pronoun!

    Other gender-neutral pronouns include xe/xem, ze/zim, and sie/hir. These are less common, but were also created to provide options that don’t assume or imply a specific gender and provide options for folks to choose what best fits their needs and identity. These are often called neopronouns.

    Some people use a combination of pronouns! You might see them list something like she/they, which typically indicates that either pronoun can be used to describe them. For people who use multiple personal pronouns, a good rule of thumb is to try to vary the way you refer to them.

    You may see some people only use two words like ‘she/her’, or others use she/her/hers when they’re sharing them. It’s up to you!

How do I share my pronouns and learn which pronouns my peers use?

  • Introducing yourself and your pronouns helps to disrupt the idea that we can just automatically assume what gender someone is, and what pronouns they use, by looking at them or hearing them.

    You’ll often find that sharing your pronouns results in other people sharing theirs. But you can also ask someone after sharing yours. You could say “My name is Tarun, and my pronouns are ‘they/them/theirs.’ How should I refer to you?”

    An important thing to note is that people’s pronouns can and do change! So it’s good practice to check in periodically even if you think you know what pronouns they use.

    You can also share your pronouns in the written form! Consider adding them on a nametag at an event, and in your email signature line — for example, Kaia Smith (she/her/hers). You can even link to this site if you think the people you email with aren’t super familiar with including pronouns!

    One more thing: don’t only ask for pronouns when you’re in a group and think there may be someone who is trans or non-binary there. Make sharing your pronouns your everyday practice to be inclusive and avoid tokenizing trans and non-binary people.

What if I use the wrong pronouns for someone?

  • Using the correct pronouns for someone demonstrates your respect. Not using their pronouns can be offensive and even a form of harassment, so it’s important to make a real effort to learn and use each person’s pronouns.

    But as humans, we do make mistakes out of forgetfulness or lack of understanding. Here are a couple examples of how you might respectfully address your mistake:

    In the moment: If you use the wrong pronoun, or misgender someone (e.g. use the wrong form of address, like Mr.), and recognize it in the moment, simply make a correction by restating the sentence. without drawing a lot of attention to it. “I love Tan. He’s such a great friend. I’m sorry, I meant to say they are such a great friend.”

    Realizing your mistake later on: If you realize you misgendered someone after a conversation or comment, reach out to the person with a brief apology. Don’t belabor the point or extend the conversation unless they indicate they want to. Instead, keep it simple. “So sorry I used the wrong pronouns at the mixer earlier. I know you use ‘she/her’ and I’ll be sure to get it right in the future.

    Every situation is different, but keep respect, care, and accountability for doing better at the front of your mind. Avoid drawing a ton of attention to a mistake, — “Oh no!! I'm so sorry José. I said ‘he’ instead of’ they’! It’s so hard, I always mess this up! What a bad friend I am!” This not only can draw unwanted attention to the person who was misgendered, but also puts them in a position where they might feel they need to reassure or otherwise respond to your emotions.