Gender neutral titles: Difference between revisions
→List of gender neutral titles: Adding a couple of notes and usage statistics courtesy of the nonbinary stats survey
imported>Cassolotl (→United Kingdom: Adding the part where the UK Deed Poll Service offer Mx) |
imported>Cassolotl (→List of gender neutral titles: Adding a couple of notes and usage statistics courtesy of the nonbinary stats survey) |
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'''Meaning:''' According to the one who coined it, Ind is short for "Individual". This title may be more appropriate for those who do not feel "mixed gender" implied titles meets their gender-neutral standards. Ind was designed to be entirely free of gender, thus making it an attractive option for [[agender]] and [[gender nonconforming]] individuals. For more information, see [http://minimalistfish.tumblr.com/post/76750503799/ind-as-a-gender-neutral-title the post in which it was coined].<ref>Torin Unrealisk (minimalistfish). "Ind. as a gender neutral title?" 2014-02-15. <i>A Glorious Abscence of Gender</i> (personal blog). Torin Unrealisk. [http://minimalistfish.tumblr.com/post/76750503799/ind-as-a-gender-neutral-title http://minimalistfish.tumblr.com/post/76750503799/ind-as-a-gender-neutral-title] Or archive: [http://frameacloud.tumblr.com/post/102470317561/ind-as-a-gender-neutral-title http://frameacloud.tumblr.com/post/102470317561/ind-as-a-gender-neutral-title]</ref> | '''Meaning:''' According to the one who coined it, Ind is short for "Individual". This title may be more appropriate for those who do not feel "mixed gender" implied titles meets their gender-neutral standards. Ind was designed to be entirely free of gender, thus making it an attractive option for [[agender]] and [[gender nonconforming]] individuals. For more information, see [http://minimalistfish.tumblr.com/post/76750503799/ind-as-a-gender-neutral-title the post in which it was coined].<ref>Torin Unrealisk (minimalistfish). "Ind. as a gender neutral title?" 2014-02-15. <i>A Glorious Abscence of Gender</i> (personal blog). Torin Unrealisk. [http://minimalistfish.tumblr.com/post/76750503799/ind-as-a-gender-neutral-title http://minimalistfish.tumblr.com/post/76750503799/ind-as-a-gender-neutral-title] Or archive: [http://frameacloud.tumblr.com/post/102470317561/ind-as-a-gender-neutral-title http://frameacloud.tumblr.com/post/102470317561/ind-as-a-gender-neutral-title]</ref> | ||
'''Use:''' In a 2017 survey, Ind was chosen by 3.8% of >9,000 nonbinary participants.<ref name="NBGQsurvey2017">''[http://nonbinarystats.tumblr.com/post/160656902130/nbgq-survey-2017-the-worldwide-results NB/GQ Survey 2017 - the worldwide results]'', published May 2017, captured August 2017.</ref> | |||
===M=== | ===M=== | ||
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'''Examples of use:''' In science fiction by Dan Simmons, ''Hyperion Cantos,'' all adult humans go by the title M.<ref>http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FantasticHonorifics</ref> | '''Examples of use:''' In science fiction by Dan Simmons, ''Hyperion Cantos,'' all adult humans go by the title M.<ref>http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FantasticHonorifics</ref> | ||
'''Similar-looking titles:''' One potential problem with the neutral title "M" is confusion with the French title "M." short for "Monsieur," which is masculine, not neutral. [http://epochryphal.tumblr.com/post/27562258920/hmmmm-so-i-know-m-stands-for-monsieur-en][http://epochryphal.tumblr.com/post/37860057313/delvinappterrace-replied-to-your-post-today-i] | '''Similar-looking titles:''' One potential problem with the neutral title "M" is confusion with the French title "M." short for "Monsieur," which is masculine, not neutral. [http://epochryphal.tumblr.com/post/27562258920/hmmmm-so-i-know-m-stands-for-monsieur-en][http://epochryphal.tumblr.com/post/37860057313/delvinappterrace-replied-to-your-post-today-i] It can also be confused for a first initial. | ||
'''Use:''' In a 2017 survey, M was chosen by 0.3% of >9,000 nonbinary participants.<ref name="NBGQsurvey2017"></ref> | |||
===Misc=== | ===Misc=== | ||
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'''History and meaning:''' The roots of the word miscellaneous comes from the Latin *miscellus*, meaning “mixed,” following the rationale that a lot of [[nonbinary]] people would say that they have aspects of various genders at various times. [http://cassolotl.tumblr.com/post/3015181250/a-gender-neutral-title-misc First known mention] in January 2011. | '''History and meaning:''' The roots of the word miscellaneous comes from the Latin *miscellus*, meaning “mixed,” following the rationale that a lot of [[nonbinary]] people would say that they have aspects of various genders at various times. [http://cassolotl.tumblr.com/post/3015181250/a-gender-neutral-title-misc First known mention] in January 2011. | ||
'''Use:''' In a 2017 survey, Misc was chosen by 0.04% of >9,000 nonbinary participants.<ref name="NBGQsurvey2017"></ref> | |||
===Mre=== | ===Mre=== | ||
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'''History and meaning:''' A play on non-binary gender often being perceived as "mysterious." One potential problem is that it contains the "mister" and "miss" sounds in the beginning. In 2001, Liz Menzel wrote, "As Mr. is short for Mister, and Mrs. was once short for Mistress, how about Mre., for 'Mistree' (or I suppose for 'mystery,' for those who demand their spelling)."<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20070310125817/http://aetherlumina.com/gnp/references.html</ref> | '''History and meaning:''' A play on non-binary gender often being perceived as "mysterious." One potential problem is that it contains the "mister" and "miss" sounds in the beginning. In 2001, Liz Menzel wrote, "As Mr. is short for Mister, and Mrs. was once short for Mistress, how about Mre., for 'Mistree' (or I suppose for 'mystery,' for those who demand their spelling)."<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20070310125817/http://aetherlumina.com/gnp/references.html</ref> | ||
'''Use:''' In a 2017 survey, Mre was chosen by 0.03% of >9,000 nonbinary participants.<ref name="NBGQsurvey2017"></ref> | |||
===Msr=== | ===Msr=== | ||
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'''Pronunciation:''' Pronounced ''misser''.<ref>[http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref> | '''Pronunciation:''' Pronounced ''misser''.<ref>[http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref> | ||
'''Use:''' In a 2017 survey, Msr was chosen by 0.1% of >9,000 nonbinary participants.<ref name="NBGQsurvey2017"></ref> | |||
===Mx=== | ===Mx=== | ||
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'''Meaning:''' The ''x'' acts as a wild card, taking the usual title format of Mr and Ms, and putting in an ''x'' to remove the gender in the title. | '''Meaning:''' The ''x'' acts as a wild card, taking the usual title format of Mr and Ms, and putting in an ''x'' to remove the gender in the title. | ||
'''Popularity:''' In a 2016 survey involving over 3,000 nonbinary respondents, Mx was the most popular gender-inclusive title at 34%.<ref name="CassolotlNBGQ2016">[http://cassolotl.tumblr.com/post/137953257500 NB/GQ Survey 2016 - the worldwide results], published 20 Feb 2015</ref> As the result of nonbinary activists asking companies to offer the Mx title as an option in paperwork, this option is becoming more widely available and well-established. As of February 2015, "31 major and respected companies, organisations and governmental departments in the UK" have been shown to give this option.<ref>Cassian Lotte Lodge (mxactivist). "There’s a new UK Mx evidence PDF up." February 6, 2015. Blog post. [http://mxactivist.tumblr.com/post/110248930295 http://mxactivist.tumblr.com/post/110248930295]</ref> | '''Popularity:''' In a 2016 survey involving over 3,000 nonbinary respondents, Mx was the most popular gender-inclusive title at 34%.<ref name="CassolotlNBGQ2016">[http://cassolotl.tumblr.com/post/137953257500 NB/GQ Survey 2016 - the worldwide results], published 20 Feb 2015</ref> When >9,000 nonbinary people worldwide were surveyed a year later Mx was chosen by 30% of participants, still the most popular title.<ref name="NBGQsurvey2017"></ref> As the result of nonbinary activists asking companies to offer the Mx title as an option in paperwork, this option is becoming more widely available and well-established. As of February 2015, "31 major and respected companies, organisations and governmental departments in the UK" have been shown to give this option.<ref>Cassian Lotte Lodge (mxactivist). "There’s a new UK Mx evidence PDF up." February 6, 2015. Blog post. [http://mxactivist.tumblr.com/post/110248930295 http://mxactivist.tumblr.com/post/110248930295]</ref> | ||
===Myr=== | ===Myr=== | ||
Myr, or myr, used as a gender neutral title, honorific, and proper noun in science fiction books by David Marusek. Its plural form is myren.<ref>cicadacicada. "New gender-neutral title." http://cicadacicada.tumblr.com/post/13856770096/new-gender-neutral-title</ref> | Myr, or myr, used as a gender neutral title, honorific, and proper noun in science fiction books by David Marusek. Its plural form is myren.<ref>cicadacicada. "New gender-neutral title." http://cicadacicada.tumblr.com/post/13856770096/new-gender-neutral-title</ref> | ||
'''Use:''' In a 2017 survey, Myr was chosen by 0.03% of >9,000 nonbinary participants.<ref name="NBGQsurvey2017"></ref> | |||
===Pr=== | ===Pr=== | ||
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'''Similar-looking titles:''' Pr. is also the title given to a Christian pastor.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastor</ref> | '''Similar-looking titles:''' Pr. is also the title given to a Christian pastor.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastor</ref> | ||
'''Use:''' In a 2017 survey, Pr was chosen by 0.02% of >9,000 nonbinary participants.<ref name="NBGQsurvey2017"></ref> | |||
===Sai=== | ===Sai=== | ||
Sai. In ''The Dark Tower,'' the title "Sai" is a gender neutral title, the equivalent Mr or Ms, as well as the honorifics sir or ma'am. | Sai. In ''The Dark Tower,'' the title "Sai" is a gender neutral title, the equivalent Mr or Ms, as well as the honorifics sir or ma'am. | ||
'''Use:''' In a 2017 survey, Sai was chosen by 0.02% of >9,000 nonbinary participants.<ref name="NBGQsurvey2017"></ref> | |||
===Ser=== | ===Ser=== | ||
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'''Similar-looking titles:''' While the title "Ser" is hundreds of years old, and has been used in a lot of media, it does not always mean the same thing, and is not gender-neutral in all cases. It's also not always equivalent to Mr or Ms, and may imply that a person has a specific profession or status. In the 1400s, "Ser" was "an honorific title usually given to notaries."<ref>Girolamo Savonarola, ''A guide to righteous living and other works.'' p. 149. </ref> In the seventeenth century in Tuscany, "Ser" was one of the titles given to physicians, and thus equivalent to "Doctor".<ref>David Gentilcore, ''Healers and healing in early modern Italy.'' p. 58.</ref> In Game of Thrones, "Ser" is the title given to knights, who are exclusively male in that setting, so it is not a gender-neutral title there.<ref>"Knighthood." ''Game of Thrones Wiki.'' http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/Knighthood </ref> Many examples of fiction that uses Ser, but they don't all use it to mean the same thing, as can be seen in [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FantasticHonorifics TV Tropes's article about Ser and other unusual honorifics in fiction]. "Ser" is also not to be confused with a similar title, "Sr," meaning "sister," the title given to a Catholic nun.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_honorifics </ref> | '''Similar-looking titles:''' While the title "Ser" is hundreds of years old, and has been used in a lot of media, it does not always mean the same thing, and is not gender-neutral in all cases. It's also not always equivalent to Mr or Ms, and may imply that a person has a specific profession or status. In the 1400s, "Ser" was "an honorific title usually given to notaries."<ref>Girolamo Savonarola, ''A guide to righteous living and other works.'' p. 149. </ref> In the seventeenth century in Tuscany, "Ser" was one of the titles given to physicians, and thus equivalent to "Doctor".<ref>David Gentilcore, ''Healers and healing in early modern Italy.'' p. 58.</ref> In Game of Thrones, "Ser" is the title given to knights, who are exclusively male in that setting, so it is not a gender-neutral title there.<ref>"Knighthood." ''Game of Thrones Wiki.'' http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/Knighthood </ref> Many examples of fiction that uses Ser, but they don't all use it to mean the same thing, as can be seen in [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FantasticHonorifics TV Tropes's article about Ser and other unusual honorifics in fiction]. "Ser" is also not to be confused with a similar title, "Sr," meaning "sister," the title given to a Catholic nun.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_honorifics </ref> | ||
'''Use:''' In a 2017 survey, Ser was chosen by 0.04% of >9,000 nonbinary participants.<ref name="NBGQsurvey2017"></ref> | |||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||