A letter with regards to explaining one's use of pronouns

[the_fantastic_ms_fox]

Here's another way of encapsulating my earlier point:

To use English to refer to singular humans in the gender-neutral requires either neologism or breaking grammatical rules. But why? School systems teach us English in such a way as to support some classes, ethicities and genders over others. For gender, this includes eliminating the singular "they," and designating "he" as the universal singular. Our language has already had its grammar and lexicon fucked with, but because we grew up with this, we see it as normal. We are taught that deviations are improper, or too new to use ("ze" is too weird, so people don't use it, so it's still new, so people think it's weird, repeat - but if you start using it, it starts sounding normal).

I'm not suggesting a particular pronoun, but a way of couching your choice and explanation thereof.

Comments

[sciencequeen.livejournal.com]

I realize that it's impossible for gender issues to not become political, but "ze" to me is more gender/feminist/counterculture and so will be regarded as such by most people not participating in that culture.

I feel that the singular use of "they" however, accomplishes exactly what is being set forth, a gender neutral pronoun. Without sparking too much debate into the "why". I think that could go further faster in the "general population"'s psyche.