26 July, 2009

Gender Neutral Pronouns

So, recently I've been running into a lot of gender neutral pronouns (ze, hir, etc) and I also got to thinking about a conversation Telemachus Two and I had a little while ago. Most of the time I really do think that I am just as liberal as I am, sort of because I have to be. I mean, how much of "the man" can I be? A triple minority does not have the luxury to do so. Yet, at the same time, when I can be, I am pretty much conservative in my beliefs in terms of government and a bit of societal structures. Now, before you start trying to get my gay card back, I'm not saying that if I was straight I'd be all against gay marriage or anything of the sort, its just that I am all for equality, but just have a thing against hippies or left-wing liberals. Rather than fight against something, I say become a part of it and change from with in.

But anyway, back to gender neutral pronouns. For some reason, "ze" and "hir" really grate at my skin. It's not that I have anything against the trans community, just gender neutral pronouns. While there are many people even within the trans community that do go by either "he" or "she," I have been running into those that use "ze" or "hir." And yes, I've read the articles, understand their logic, binary etc etc, but I just.... Like my girlfriend says, it could just be, that like most people, when it comes to language, you are pretty much taught the basic structures of the language and where things fall into place, and since "ze" and "hir" go against that, I have a problem with it. So alas, this is where I stand.

I can see how people feel that they don't necessarily stand in one binary or another, believe me, I really do. And I'm not saying that I do not support those who do go with gender neutral pronouns or am against the trans community, but come on. give me a break. And yes, I know, I'm not offering solutions, just my opinion.
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3 comments:

  1. Telemachus TwoJuly 27, 2009 at 11:34 PM

    So...I suppose, at the end of the day, the question is: is it hypocritical of us to view those who are against LGBT rights as so narrow-minded? I can't say that I would be so accepting if I wasn't gay, although I'd like to say that I would be.

    And, Arco, I'm surprised that the language trips you up so. There weren't words for them, so they created them. Why is there such a divide between the LGBs and Ts? I don't understand it; those who condemn us don't condemn one group and not the other. We're in the same boat! We deviate from what is considered "normal," yet I feel like the LGBs look at the Ts and say, "Well, at least I'm not THAT drastic." (I'm not saying that you're doing this.) Is this an appeal to the majority, a way of saying, "Look! I'm more like you than they are! I'm kinda normal! We share a common disdain for them, common ground!"

    And maybe I shouldn't say that this is the way the LGBs feel because I've only observed lesbians having a problem with Ts.

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  2. Arco IrisJuly 27, 2009 at 11:53 PM

    I totally understand where you are coming from, and I agree with you about the hypocrisy. It's just for every oppressed group, there will always be another that is worst off.

    It's just a matter of acceptance and understanding. I don't completely exclude myself from that. While I would never say something about like at least I'm not in that group etc, etc since you never know what can happen, I do think I could do with being a bit more liberal.

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  3. Telemachus TwoJuly 28, 2009 at 12:12 AM

    You and me, both.

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