Just because something feels new to you doesn’t mean it hasn’t been around for ages. This is particularly true for gender neutral pronouns. While their increased usage and visibility today might appear recent, these pronouns have been in use for centuries for various reasons. You may have unknowingly incorporated them into your daily conversations. Let’s take a historical journey to explore their roots.
A Universal Reference
The use of third-gender and gender neutral pronouns dates back as far as the 14th century. In his book, What’s Your Pronoun? Beyond He and She, Professor James Carter from the University of Illinois delves into the history of gender neutral pronouns and underscores their significance. Although the use of they/them pronouns is now primarily associated with nonbinary and gender nonconforming individuals, Carter points out that the singular ‘they’ has been a favored tool among writers when gender is unknown, irrelevant, or needs to be concealed for privacy purposes.
Notable figures such as Geoffrey Chaucer employed the singular ‘they’ in The Canterbury Tales as early as 1386, while William Shakespeare frequently used they/them pronouns in his works, particularly in Hamlet in 1599. Jane Austen also utilized these pronouns in her 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice. Their usage during these times wasn’t necessarily aimed at defining individuals outside of the gender binary, but it does highlight the longstanding presence of they/them pronouns in the singular form, which has now become a standard in writing style guides and dictionaries.
You’ve probably used they/them pronouns to refer to a singular person too. For instance, if you find a water bottle at the park, you might say, “Oh, someone forgot their water bottle. I hope they remember to come back for it. I’ll take it to the lost and found for them if it’s still here when I leave.” It’s simply easier than saying ‘his or her’ repeatedly when the person’s gender is unknown.
The Evolution of Pronouns and Women’s Rights
Throughout history, the use of gender neutral pronouns has also played a role in advocating for women’s rights. In the late 19th century, ‘he’ was often used as a generic pronoun, which tended to favor men and uphold patriarchal systems. According to Carter, suffragists argued from the 1870s to the early 1900s that if ‘he’ was considered generic in legal contexts, then the term should also encompass women. Unfortunately, the courts did not agree, allowing women to face legal consequences while still excluding them from voting.
As previously mentioned, consistently using ‘he/she’ or ‘his/hers’ can become cumbersome. In her 1991 Master’s thesis titled Solving the Great Pronoun Problem, Kelly Ann Sippell identified several third-person and gender neutral pronouns aimed at including both ‘him and her’ or ‘his and hers’ in a single term: hes, hiser, hem, ons, e, heer, he’er, hesh, se, heesh, herim, co, tey, per, na, en, herm, hir, and shey.
The term that gained the most attention before the more commonly used third-person pronouns was ‘thon.’ Coined by Charles Crozat Converse in 1858 as a contraction of ‘that one,’ the word was included in Merriam-Webster’s Second New International Dictionary in 1934 as a proposed genderless pronoun of the third person, though it was removed in the 1961 edition.
Language continues to evolve, especially as advocacy for gender equality and equity grows among marginalized communities. Studies have shown that using gender neutral pronouns and moving away from the default of he/him to refer to all people helps reduce mental biases that perpetuate patriarchal systems and toxic masculinity. Their usage also leads to improved attitudes towards women and the queer community.
Expanding Beyond the Binary
Nonbinary, transgender, and gender nonconforming individuals have existed throughout history, but naming and recognizing our identities often faces resistance. For example, Halsey uses both she/they pronouns. Pronouns like ze, hir, and xe are also adopted by individuals who do not identify strictly as male or female. If you’re interested in learning more, this video is an excellent primer on understanding and using gender neutral pronouns.
If you wish to continue your exploration, this guide provides a comprehensive overview and tips on how to adopt more inclusive language, whether with strangers or in professional settings.
Gender neutral pronouns serve multiple purposes: they are inclusive of all genders, enhance communication efficiency, and represent specific identities that exist beyond the traditional he/him or she/her constructs. Their historical roots are deep, and as society continues to embrace diversity, their usage will likely become even more widespread. If you identify as a woman, it’s essential to recognize that the introduction of these pronouns into the written language has also been beneficial for you.
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