[jacey.ATX]

Gender neutral pronouns are often preferred by individuals who identify as intersex or genderqueer, meaning they feel they do not fit in to the gender binary.

The professor I mentioned (at the University of Texas at Austin, hardly a hippie school) identifies as neither male nor female. Ze is the Education Coordinator of the Gender and Sexuality Center, and ze taught us how to use the following gender neutral pronouns:

"Ze" (pronounced 'zee') is used in place of "he" or "she."
"Hir" (pronounced 'here') is used in place of "him" or "her."
"Hirs" (pronounced 'heres') is used in place of "his" or "hers."
"Hirself" (pronounced 'here-self') is used in place of "himself" or "herself."

Handy Examples:
Gendered: He went to his grandmother's house to help wash the car.
Gender-neutral: Ze went to hir grandmother's house to help her wash the car.

Gendered: I asked Sam if she wanted to be in our play, and she said she would check her schedule.
Gender-neutral: I asked Sam if ze wanted to be in our play, and ze said ze would check hir schedule.


Look, I didn't think them up. I'm just passing on the information. In my opinion, gender-neutral pronouns will never "catch on" in a sense that they will come into mainstream usage-- that's not really the point.

But if I meet someone who is interex or genderqueer and prefers to be called "ze," I will do my best to honor hir wishes. Life is difficult enough for people who are born in bodies that contradict how they feel inside. If my changing a little pronoun can help them feel more like themselves around me, of course I will do that.