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<h1 class="">Gender-neutral pronoun policy lacking at Ryerson </h1>
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21 hours ago </div>
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<img src="http://theeyeopener.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/anti-they__jscott.jpg" class="" alt="A lack of policy surrounding gender-neutral pronouns has created issues for students in the classroom. PHOTO: Jake Scott" height="452" width="677"> <p align="right">Photo: Jake Scott</p>
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<p><b>By Nicole Schmidt and Brenda Molina-Navidad</b></p>
<p>A lack of university policy surrounding gender-neutral pronoun usage
in the classroom has been causing problems for transgender students.</p>
<p>Trans Collective coordinator Markus Harwood-Jones, who uses he and
they pronouns, said they choose not to use gender-neutral pronouns in
class because of how often professors are unwilling to be accommodating.
Issues that stem from within the classroom, they added, are the most
common complaints students bring forward.</p>
<p>While writing an essay earlier this year, Harwood-Jones used
gender-neutral pronouns. When the assignment was returned, they said the
professor flagged the pronoun-use as a grammatical issue.</p>
<p>“This professor was very adamant. Even after we spoke and agreed to
disagree, she still expressed that she doesn’t feel like it’s
academically appropriate,” said Harwood-Jones, adding that they’ve seen
other instances where students have felt so marginalized in class that
they’ve stopped going.</p>
<p>There has been a long standing debate within academic communities
when it comes to pronoun-usage. Gender-specific pronouns, such as “she”
and “he,” are typically encouraged in academic writing over “they,”
“them” and “their.” Despite disagreements over grammar, the use of
gender-neutral pronouns has become more common and, according to the
Oxford Dictionaries, is now widely accepted in speech and writing.</p>
<p>Grammatical discrepancies are common among students, according to
Jane Freeman, director of English Language and Writing Support at the
University of Toronto (U of T). This can make the differentiation
unclear when somebody has made an error, she added. “Using a plural
pronoun to mean a singular is grammatically incorrect. However, it’s
become a statement of personal identity to use a gender neutral pronoun
for some writers in context,” she said. “When it’s used strategically in
that context, it’s not an error; it’s a choice.”</p>
<p>U of T does not currently have a formal policy in place prohibiting
or accepting the use of gender-neutral pronouns in the classroom.</p>
<p>Nora Farrell, Ryerson’s Ombudperson who assists students with
complaints surrounding fairness, emphasized that language is constantly
evolving to reflect the way society is moving. “It’s really more of an
inclusion issue,” she said.</p>
<p>Some universities in Canada have adopted policies to address language
issues. Mount Allison University in New Brunswick has a policy on the
use of gender-neutral pronouns, which states that “Gender neutral
language shall be used in all official University documents … as well as
in other University communications.” These guidelines were created “to
be of assistance to members of the university community in every
academic situation in choosing words which are accurate, clear and free
from bias.”</p>
<p>York also has a gender-free language policy, in addition to a guide
on gender identity and expression. Similarly, Queen’s created inclusive
language guidelines, which favour gender-neutral phrases over those that
make “sex distinctions.”</p>
<p>While Ryerson does have a discrimination and harassment prevention
policy, which includes gender identity and gender expression,
gender-neutral language and pronoun usage is not included. Andrew
Hunter, Ryerson’s Interim Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts, said
there are no gender-neutral language regulations within the English
department. He added that he is not aware of regulations within other
departments.</p>
<p>But Dale Smith, associate professor in Ryerson’s English department,
said creating a policy for gender-neutral pronouns may be problematic
because it could shift the focus away from the issue.</p>
<p>“Imposing policy guidelines around language is kind of a dangerous
approach to it and it doesn’t build anything but respect for policy
rather than respect for the larger reality that we inhabit,” he said.</p>
<p>For many students, the advocacy for gender-pronoun usage falls on
them. Fifth-year social work student Gabi Tabi said pronoun use isn’t
something that’s openly discussed, and that it should be.</p>
<p>“Some people think, ‘It’s just a gender pronoun, it’s no big deal.’
But it is a big deal for me. It’s a part of my identity. For people who
don’t respect those pronouns, it really invalidates you and your
identity.”</p>
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