Pronouns

Issue

There is a transgender student in my class. She’s made it clear that she uses the pronouns she/her/hers but some of the other students and I refer to her as “him”. It is an adjustment—I don’t think anyone is being cruel, but I’m afraid to call students out or make a big deal of it.

Possible Responses

• Email the student or speak to her one-on-one. Acknowledge the errors and ask her how she would like it to be handled.
• Work on catching yourself quickly when it happens and correct yourself in the moment. Role model for the class.
• Use her name instead of gender pronoun.
• Be gentle with yourself and others who are trying to do better in new circumstances.