Gender neutral titles: Difference between revisions

A '''gender neutral title''' is an alternative to the gendered honorifics Miss, Mrs, Ms and Mr, Mt/Mm for people who don't fit the [[gender binary]] and therefore don't feel that a gendered title fits their identity. It is used in formal situations when it is inappropriate to refer to someone by their first or last name only. However, there are quite a lot of people who would prefer to never be referred to with a title. In the 2019 Gender Census, 33% of respondents didn't want to use a title for themselves.<ref name="Census2018" />

For the most part, gender neutral titles without qualification/career connotations are not recognised by the general public or businesses/organisations. Activists and supporters are working toward awareness and acceptance of alternative titles. The generally accepted gender neutral titles are associated with qualifications and careers, such as Dr (Doctor) and Rev (Reverend).

For some nonbinary folk, being referred to with a gendered title can trigger [[gender dysphoria]].

'''History and Meaning:''' From Latin's ''magister'', whence ''mister'' and ''mistress'', with the neuter ending -trum related to the suffix -ter, the masculine -tor, and the feminine -trix.<ref>'[https://www.reddit.com/r/whatstheword/comments/jhodsn/comment/ga18pey/ "WTW for a gender-neutral sir/ma'am"]', comment on Reddit post, 25 October 2020. [https://archive.ph/aPHMz Archive], captured 24 August 2022.</ref> However, top search results also point to ''mistrum'' in Early Middle English, where it meant ''scant'' or ''poor''.