Pronoun Preferences in Literature & Literary Theory

Pronoun Preferences: Term, Meanings and Concept

• Term: Pronoun preference refers to individuals’ choices regarding the pronouns they prefer others to use when referring to them.
• Meanings:
  • Individuals may express preferences for pronouns such as “he/him,” “she/her,” “they/them,” or neopronouns like “ze/zir” based on their gender identity.
  • Pronoun preference can also extend to honorifics like “Mr.,” “Ms.,” “Mx.,” or other titles that align with one’s gender identity or personal preferences.
• Concept:
  • Pronoun preference is central to affirming individuals’ gender identities and fostering inclusive language practices.
  • Respecting and honoring individuals’ pronoun preferences is a fundamental aspect of creating supportive and respectful environments, particularly for transgender and nonbinary individuals.
  • Pronoun preference emphasizes the importance of recognizing and validating diverse experiences of gender identity and expression.

Pronoun Preferences: Definition of a Theoretical Term

Pronoun preferences refer to an individual’s chosen pronouns used to address or refer to them in conversation or written communication. These preferences are often informed by one’s gender identity, with options including traditional pronouns like “he/him” or “she/her,” as well as nonbinary pronouns like “they/them” or neopronouns such as “ze/zir.” Pronoun preferences are a key aspect of affirming an individual’s gender identity and fostering inclusive language practices in society.

Pronoun Preferences: Theorists, Works and Arguments

Theorists:

• Judith Butler: Butler’s seminal work, Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity, explores the performative nature of gender and how pronoun preference can challenge traditional gender binaries. She argues that pronouns play a crucial role in the construction and performance of gender identity.
• Kate Bornstein: In Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women, and the Rest of Us, Bornstein advocates for the recognition of nonbinary gender identities and the use of nontraditional pronouns. Bornstein’s work emphasizes the importance of respecting individuals’ pronoun preferences to affirm their gender identities.
• Riki Anne Wilchins: Wilchins’ book, Read My Lips: Sexual Subversion and the End of Gender, discusses pronoun preference as a means of subverting traditional gender norms. Wilchins argues that pronoun preferences empower individuals to assert their gender identities and challenge societal expectations.

Works:

• Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity by Judith Butler: This foundational text delves into the performative aspects of gender identity, highlighting how pronoun preferences can disrupt traditional understandings of gender.
• Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women, and the Rest of Us by Kate Bornstein: Bornstein’s work challenges binary conceptions of gender and advocates for the recognition of diverse gender identities through pronoun preferences.
• Read My Lips: Sexual Subversion and the End of Gender by Riki Anne Wilchins: Wilchins’ book explores the role of pronoun preference in subverting societal norms of gender and promoting gender liberation.

Arguments:

• Judith Butler argues that pronoun preference is not merely linguistic choices but performative acts that contribute to the construction and expression of gender identity. Respecting individuals’ pronoun preferences is essential for acknowledging the fluidity and complexity of gender.
• Kate Bornstein emphasizes the significance of pronoun preferences in affirming nonbinary and genderqueer identities. Using preferred pronouns validates individuals’ experiences and challenges the restrictive nature of traditional gender categories.
• Riki Anne Wilchins contends that pronoun preferences serve as a form of resistance against gender norms and expectations. By honoring individuals’ pronoun choices, society can create more inclusive and supportive environments for people of all gender identities.

Pronoun Preferences: Major Characteristics

1. Reflective of Gender Identity: Pronoun preferences are indicative of an individual’s gender identity, with choices aligning with their self-perception and expression. In Virginia Woolf’s Orlando, the protagonist’s gender transformation highlights the fluidity of identity and the significance of pronoun preferences in reflecting internal experiences.
2. Affirmative and Empowering: Respecting and using individuals’ preferred pronouns affirm their gender identity and promote a sense of empowerment. In Audre Lorde’s poetry collection The Black Unicorn, pronoun choices reflect the poet’s assertion of selfhood and resistance against societal norms.
3. Language of Inclusion: Pronoun preferences foster inclusivity by recognizing diverse gender identities and experiences. In Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, the use of inclusive language underscores the novel’s themes of interconnectedness and communal identity.
4. Challenges Gender Norms: Pronoun preferences challenge traditional gender norms and binaries, promoting acceptance of gender diversity. In Leslie Feinberg’s Stone Butch Blues, pronoun choices reflect the protagonist’s defiance of societal expectations and assertion of personal identity.
5. Respect for Autonomy: Respecting individuals’ pronoun preferences demonstrates respect for their autonomy and agency in defining their gender identities. In Junot Díaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, characters’ pronoun choices reflect their autonomy and resistance against cultural expectations.

Pronoun Preferences: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Pronoun Preferences
Formalism	Pronoun preferences challenge formalist approaches by emphasizing the importance of language as a reflection of individual identity and lived experiences, enriching textual analysis.
Reader-Response Criticism	Pronoun preferences intersect with reader-response criticism by highlighting the reader’s role in interpreting and engaging with texts through the lens of diverse gender identities.
Postcolonial Theory	Pronoun preferences critique postcolonial theory by urging for inclusivity in language use, recognizing marginalized identities, and challenging colonial legacies of erasure and misrepresentation.
Feminist Criticism	Pronoun preferences are central to feminist criticism, as they empower individuals to assert their gender identities, challenging patriarchal language norms and advocating for gender inclusivity.
Marxist Criticism	Pronoun preferences intersect with Marxist criticism by foregrounding individual agency and autonomy in language use, challenging hegemonic discourse, and advocating for social justice and equality.
Psychoanalytic Criticism	Pronoun preferences intersect with psychoanalytic criticism by reflecting individuals’ self-perception and identity formation, providing insights into the interplay between language, psyche, and culture.

Pronoun Preferences: Application in Critiques

1. Orlando by Virginia Woolf:
   • Pronoun preference is pivotal in analyzing the protagonist’s gender transformation throughout the novel. The shift in pronouns reflects Orlando’s evolving sense of self and challenges traditional gender binaries.
   • By examining how pronoun choices influence the reader’s perception of Orlando’s identity, critics can explore Woolf’s exploration of gender fluidity and the complexities of self-expression.
2. The Black Unicorn by Audre Lorde:
   • Pronoun preferences in Lorde’s poetry collection reflect the poet’s assertion of selfhood and resistance against societal norms. By analyzing pronoun choices, critics can delve into themes of identity, empowerment, and social justice.
   • Critiques may explore how Lorde’s use of pronouns challenges dominant narratives and fosters inclusivity within literary representations of gender and identity.
3. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez:
   • In Márquez’s novel, pronoun preference can be analyzed in the context of inclusive language and communal identity. By examining pronoun choices, critics can explore themes of interconnectedness and diversity within the narrative.
   • Pronoun preference may reflect characters’ autonomy and agency in defining their identities, contributing to the richness and complexity of Márquez’s portrayal of Macondo society.
4. Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg:
   • Pronoun preferences play a crucial role in Feinberg’s exploration of gender nonconformity and resistance. By examining pronoun choices, critics can analyze the protagonist’s defiance of societal norms and assertion of personal identity.
   • Critiques may explore how pronoun preference reflects broader themes of autonomy, agency, and solidarity within the LGBTQ+ community depicted in the novel.

In each of these works, pronoun preference serves as a lens through which to analyze themes of identity, empowerment, and resistance, offering insights into the complexities of gender expression and societal norms.

Pronoun Preferences: Relevant Terms

Term	Definition	Example
Pronouns	Words used to replace a person’s name (e.g., she/her, he/him, they/them).	“Alex went to the store. They bought some apples.”
Gender Pronouns	Pronouns traditionally associated with a specific gender (e.g., she/her for feminine, he/him for masculine).	“Sarah uses she/her pronouns.”
Neopronouns	Pronouns created outside the traditional gender binary (e.g., xe/xem, ze/zir).	“Jamie prefers xe/xem pronouns.”
Cisgender	A person whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth.	“Mark is a cisgender man.”
Transgender	A person whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.	“Ashley is a transgender woman.”
Non-binary	A person whose gender identity falls outside the traditional male/female binary.	“River identifies as non-binary.”
Genderfluid	A person whose gender identity shifts over time.	“Taylor’s gender identity is fluid.”
Asking for Pronouns	The practice of respectfully inquiring about a person’s pronouns.	“Hi, I’m Ben. What are your pronouns?”
Sharing Pronouns	Voluntarily offering your own pronouns.	“My name is Lisa, and I use she/her pronouns.”
Misgendering	Using pronouns or other gendered terms that don’t match a person’s gender identity.	“Calling a transgender woman ‘he’ would be misgendering.”

Pronoun Preferences: Suggested Readings

1. Bornstein, Kate. Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women, and the Rest of Us. Vintage, 1995.
2. Butler, Judith. Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. Routledge, 1990.
3. Feinberg, Leslie. Stone Butch Blues. Firebrand Books, 1993.
4. García Márquez, Gabriel. One Hundred Years of Solitude. Harper & Row, 1970.
5. Lorde, Audre. The Black Unicorn. W. W. Norton & Company, 1995.
6. Woolf, Virginia. Orlando. Hogarth Press, 1928.
7. Halberstam, Jack. Trans: A Quick and Quirky Account of Gender Variability. University of California Press, 2018.
8. Koyama, Emi. Transfeminist Perspectives in and beyond Transgender and Gender Studies. Temple University Press, 2012.
9. Stryker, Susan. Transgender History. Seal Press, 2008.
10. Wilchins, Riki Anne. Read My Lips: Sexual Subversion and the End of Gender. Firebrand Books, 1997.