When professors refuse to use pronouns?

[icontact]

So I sent emails to all my teachers about using pronouns, and was thinking about what happens if they come up with some strange reason not to, and just refuse to use the right pronouns.

Is there anything you can do about it?

[KarenLyn]

Well, sometimes this works - "Oh, I'm sorry. Were you talking to me?" Politely correct them and if it continues stop responding to them.  You could also ask why they insist on addressing you in a manner you find offensive.  Of course some are too stubborn to be changed.  Good luck. I hope you find the right combinations to work it out with all your professors.

Karen Lyn

[Alyx.]

Shesh, you are going to have your teachers call you he?

In class?

In front of all the other students?

@_@

[Robin_p]

Keep saying excuse me, Excuse me , Not!

That is what i did in church and everytime they started to address me i would say "Robin". it took about six months. But they are better about it.

[JonasCarminis]

if theyre a male teacher, call them Mrs.xxxxxxxx or if its a woman teacher call her Mr.xxxxxxxxx untill s/he calls you by the right pronouns. lawl... or you could take it up with a school councelor or principal if you have a good relation with one of them.

[gravitysrainbow]

When I e-mailed my professors, I framed it as an issue not only of comfort, but of safety. Y'know..."I'm a guy, and that's what I'll be telling my peers. If someone in authority says otherwise, I could face verbal or physical harassment. I hope you'll help me to avoid that possibility." They're unlikely to refuse if you put it that way. I was just as worried as you, and have gotten nothing but support from my professors. And I'm in Tennessee. Just ask them to reply to your e-mail asap so you know they've received it, and if any of them reply saying they can't call you "he" (which I would hope they would have the decency to do, on the off chance that ends up being the case), maybe it'll be with enough advance warning that you could switch to a new class.

[icontact]

Karen/Robin/Michael: That's a good idea. I hope I don't need to though.  We'll see.

Heartwood: Yes, of course. Why not? I pass 100% in the winter, and about 60/40 when it's too hot for a beanie. Didn't really make sense to come out to the entire school and then not ask staff to use pronouns as well. Besides, it'll show the skeptic kids that I'm serious about being transgender if authority figures use the right pronouns.

Chet: Hahaha, that's a good idea too, but I think I'm too much of a good kid to try that.

[Cindy]

As a University Professor
Ok so I'm different. But I tear streaks of people in my classes who do not use the appropriate pronouns. I look forward to teaching the ignorant. I am a teacher, teaching is about teaching life, not just the subject you are employed for. I love the big bigoted types. I'm 5' 9" in heels, and 110 pds ( if I have the calculation right, 58kg). Do not be afraid; teachers are in the profession because they like people - the more different the student is the more fun it is to teach them.

Enjoy
Cindy James

[Seshatneferw]

Also (writing this in my office at the university), one of the main goals, or even the main goal, of university education is to enable students to learn to think by themselves and have the self-confidence to trust their judgement. Sending the request is a clear sign that you are on the right track there.

  Nfr

[Alyx.]

Heartwood:[/b] Yes, of course. Why not? I pass 100% in the winter, and about 60/40 when it's too hot for a beanie. Didn't really make sense to come out to the entire school and then not ask staff to use pronouns as well. Besides, it'll show the skeptic kids that I'm serious about being transgender if authority figures use the right pronouns.

I'm serious about being trans too but I don't need EVERYONE to know.

Well, whatever. To each his own.

[sneakersjay]

Besides, it'll show the skeptic kids that I'm serious about being transgender if authority figures use the right pronouns.

I get what you're saying overall in your posts, but this sentence jumped out at me.

I'm NOT serious about being transgender; I'm serious about being ME.  And I am MALE.


But yeah, pronouns are important.  I'm in the  middle of work transition.  Everyone is supportive, most are trying to use the proper pronouns, and usually remember right AFTER they say SHE.  They're trying, and that's what counts.

Jay