On March 27th, 2018, Long Beach City College officially allowed students to change their name on their college records, but pronouns were not added to this change.
This option allowed many students the feeling of safety and validation, but there is still more that the college can do to support their transgender, nonbinary and gender non-conforming students.
Pronouns are just as important as people’s chosen names.
Not adding the option for people to add their pronouns, but allowing people to add their chosen or preferred name is insinuating that one’s name is the only thing that’s important.
According to a study by The Trevor Project, one in four LGBTQ youth use pronouns other than he and him and she and her. Someone using other pronouns can use exclusively they and them, or a combination of pronouns such as she and they.
Other transgender or gender non-conforming people could use neopronouns such as xe and xem or fae and faer because they and them or other pronouns don’t match one’s personal identities.
Many transgender and gender non-conforming students might tell their professors in the beginning of the school year their preferred pronouns, however most often these pronouns are not respected because students get tired of having to correct their professors or feel embarrassed.
The student to faculty ratio at Long Beach City college is about 28:1. That means for every professor there’s about 28 students.
Mandatory training for professors and staff, listening to the transgender and nonbinary students and more might be needed to begin to move in a progressive direction.
The first step that needs to be taken is adding pronouns to your student account as an option, like how many students added a preferred name.
If students were able to fill out a form and have their preferred pronouns added like so many students have their chosen name or nickname added, professors would be able to learn students’ pronouns as they are learning their names.
Not only would adding pronouns to the roster help professors, but it would help normalize the idea that everyone has different pronouns and no one should assume one’s pronouns based on their appearance.
While some might not understand why someone might go by a different name or different pronouns, it’s easy to respect the wishes of the person by calling them by their preferred pronouns.
Long Beach City College adding the option to put one’s preferred pronouns along with their preferred name is a way the school can show that they respect their transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming students.