‘They’

Tome to me this represents how times are changing. People are starting to feel like they can finally be themselves and open up about who they are. Judgment is so detrimental to how we see ourselves. When we feel judged, we feel that who we are isn't good enough, which is the complete opposite of the truth. Be who you are and do it unapologetically.

I believe the pin depicted in the picture is a pronoun pin. The person in the photo has the pin on their jacket to advertise to people that their preferred pronouns are they/them. Pins that say someone’s preferred pronouns are popular within the lgbtqia+ community, and allies too. They’re used especially by people whose gender isn’t immediately apparent, or could be mistaken. I’m sure this isn’t news to most people, but not everybody knows that people use these, or even that people need to use these. Everybody has to learn sometime. An even lesser known fact is that some people who use these pins don't use he or she pronouns, they use something else. There are lots of people who use they/them or other non-gendered pronouns. These people refer to themselves as a plethora of different labels, but a general blanket term for all genders that aren’t male or female is non-binary. Non-binary is the word used because the people who define this way don’t subscribe to the gender binary of male/female.

There are many meanings behind a picture. However, I believe this picture has a clear message. In the picture, we can see someone wearing a pin that has the word 'They' printed on it. I believe that this person is at an LGBT+ rally expressing their true self. I also believe that this person identifies as non-binary, which means that they do not identify themselves as a male or female In today's day and age, many people feel comfortable expressing who they are. We as a society feel like we only have two genders, male and female; I believe that anyone can be who they want to be. People who express themselves shouldn’t have to deal with the hate of others who haven’t accepted people for who they are and not what they are.

As I look at this picture, the first thing that comes to mind is the LGBTQ community of today. The pronoun “They” includes all of them, which makes the pronoun a source of unity for those who do not see themselves as another basic pronoun. The pin on the shirt is in all capitals as if trying to make a bold statement and make it so that it can be heard. Personally, I cannot relate to this photo in many ways. Although, being at Hoggard, a very socially accepting school, I have learned a lot about others and the differences in today’s society compared to the past. I think that what you define yourself as is a personal opinion and it is something I do not feel very strongly towards in one direction or the other.

The pronoun “they”, although not new, is an important addition to our vernacular, giving an option for people who do not necessarily conform to the gender binary. This image is quite simple yet speaks to a much larger conversation. It speaks to the queer population which does not conform within the binary of our predominantly heteronormative society. This pin represents every time a non binary person has been misgendered or been called the wrong pronoun. It relates to a global conversation we as a world civilization are having around the way we interact with gender identity and non binary folx. I can relate to this because I believe gender is a spectrum on which no one i fully at either end. However though I am pretty cisgender I have close friends who are not. I witness the issues and struggles they go through on a daily basis simply trying to present themselves the way they feel fit. While I may never experience the same issues someone who goes through these issues, I can always sympathize and advocate for those who may not be able to. In my opinion whatever privilege you possess should be used to lift others up whether speaking on race, gender or any other identity or position.

THEY! A pronoun not so recognized, hidden behind the him and hers, screams out “I AM HERE”. This pin representing a person's pronouns or PGP (personal gender pronouns) is a bold statement, all caps, drawing attention to who they are. As someone who personally identifies as a Non-Binary individual and uses they/them pronouns representation in my community is very important. In today’s progressive society, within the LGBT community, neo-pronouns are becoming better represented, though it has a long way to go. It is an identification for people who are outside the gender binary (non-binary/agender), an identity deeply rooted in who they are as individuals. They/them pronouns even find its way into our culture everyday with people such as Sam Smith, Ruby Rose, Johnathan Van Ness, Jacob Tobias and many more! Raising pronoun awareness makes the world a more comfortable place to live in and seeing people standing proud with ‘They’ on their shirts, front and center for many to see, gives others the same sense of courage to be themselves. As a collective society we must shift our language from such a heavily gendered state. Let our generation be the one that creates the change we want, shift the barriers between sex and gender identity. We can identify however we want to because it is our right as an individual to express ourselves any way we want. The sky's not the limit reach out to other galaxies. Let's show others it’s okay to be different and to be comfortable in their own skin.

The name tag that this individual is wearing signifies that they identify with they/them pronouns. These pronouns are used in replacement of she/her or he/him pronouns. People who identify as non-binary usually prefer to be called they or them because they feel like they do not identify with female or male pronouns. This picture seems to be taken at a rally or some sort of LGBT+ event which can show how people are becoming more accepting with people’s identities and sexual orientations in the past few decades. Images like this are important to me because I love to see people being their true selves and being able to express themselves freely without ridicule.

Growing up in a school that does nothing but accept people in all shapes and forms, I am very familiar with what this picture is depicting. Gender has a completely different meaning today than it did 50 years ago. Now, there are 50+ genders that many people identify as. But not everyone is so accepting. This picture is showing a person in gender neutral clothing, at some type of rally I would assume, fighting for everyone to accept their true identity. The audience can see the change society is going through, along with the changes people are going through nowadays that is becoming more and more popular.

This image depicts someone with the name tag ‘they’ in their chest. You are unable to tell if they’re female or male, which is the purpose of the image. In this day and age gender norms are changing a lot. It’s not longer just he or she or him or her. Some people don’t like to go by certain pronouns. Many people feel more comfortable without a label and that’s where ‘they’ comes in. People who are non-bionary go by that pronoun. They don’t feel comfortable identifying with a certain gender so they choose a non biased one. Yet people still don’t understand that. When you’re not sure if someone is a male or female make sure to ask what their pronouns are. It’s much nicer to ask then assuming or calling someone ‘it’. It belittles the person just because of the way they choose to live their life. So before you assume always ask.

In this day in age that revolves around phones, pictures, and all types of technology everyone knows everything about everyone and are involved in other people's lives. With all the things that people post and get put out people are always worried about what others are doing. That's where the word "they" comes in people get so caught up in other people's lives and its what can create forms of isolation and the fear of missing out. There are studies that show that some kids can even get depression when they see other kids out with their friends having fun while they maybe don't have as many friends or the opportunity to do things like that.

Feathers, bricks, and curtains. Each of these is connected because they are words, but the words have a purpose of describing an object’s identity. The idea of he or she to describe a boy or a girl is becoming more blurred in society today. The simple word “they” has been used to replace him or her when referring to gender neutrality, but the real question goes deeper than just the word itself. The issue at the core is how should gender be identified in the first place. Just because a person may be born a certain way, is it moral to subject them to their stereotype? Many people believe that being the“wrong” gender is a feeling or an emotion. In this is the case; then, gender is fluid and follows whatever the feelings dictate. Opinion and personal experience can be very confusing and temporary. However, there is a biological reality that everyone has, and at times it is unforgiving. What I am born as will stay the same forever and is abundantly clear. If we begin to call non-binary people “they,” are we ignoring their biology? If we call everyone “they” and get rid of every possible offensive word, are we redefining humans as gender-neutral beings? Is biology irrelevant to psychology? Society tries not to be offensive to gender-neutral people, but in turn, society ends up offending every person who has chosen to identify with their biological gender. By doing this, one offense is being traded for another, as well as the fact that you can't make everyone happy.

There’s a trend in society to shift the blame onto others rather than ourselves. It’s a tactic that’s been used ever since humans created pronouns around 100,000 years ago. Just to see the label “They” on someone first makes me think, “Not us” It’s dissociation. And with no context to the label, we give it negative connotations. If it’s not ‘us’ then it must be bad. They must be the wrong ones. “They did it, not me!” It’s putting yourself out of the picture. “Oh, well they don’t like us” It’s showing distance between two groups, and a lack of shared similarities. When seeing a person labeled “they”, what do you think of? Is it bad? Does it seem like they’re being ostracized? Generalized? Imagine if that pin said “Us”, instead of saying “they”. Do you feel unity with this person now, even if you don’t know who they are? A sense of shared pride, even if you don’t know what it is? Connection with that person, even if you haven’t even met them? Humans have always had an “us-against-them” complex. It’s one of the reasons we feel so good when we’re included in something. It’s how we’ve survived as a species. The problem is now we don’t have to worry about fighting off other species who might think we’re a tasty snack. We’re in a bustling society, and in that bustling society there are those who are to blame, and those who are the blamers. That’s what I believe this picture is trying to say.