{"id":6714,"date":"2021-03-22T11:40:01","date_gmt":"2021-03-22T18:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hccso.org\/?p=6714"},"modified":"2023-10-23T12:14:31","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T19:14:31","slug":"what-is-the-relationship-between-pronouns-and-health-equity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hccso.org\/what-is-the-relationship-between-pronouns-and-health-equity\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Relationship Between Pronouns and Health Equity?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When we use pronouns such as <\/span>he, she, his, hers, they<\/span><\/i> or <\/span>their<\/span><\/i> to address others or ourselves, we\u2019re contributing to a person\u2019s identity. Pronouns are a way in which we categorize those around us, but most of us don\u2019t stop to consider what happens when our identity clashes with how others identify with us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So what happens if a person\u2019s identity is at odds with the world around them, and how can affirmation of a person\u2019s identity lead to better health outcomes?<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/h2>\n

What is Identity?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Identity contributes to a person’s self esteem and personal sense of worth. It is a major contributor to viewpoints and motivations, and impacts how someone interacts with the world, and conversely how the world interacts with them, too. Identity even relates to basic values, which in turn influences the choices people make in life. In short, identity is important to each and every one of us, and to our mental health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Gender identity in particular is the naming of a person\u2019s gender. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, \u201cby age four, most children have a stable sense of their gender identity.\u201d However, for those whose gender does not correspond with the sex they were assigned at birth, it can take much longer due to the lack of dialogue and acceptance around being transgender.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Gender is a spectrum that includes female, male, nonbinary, agender, bigender, genderfluid, and more. <\/span>If you would like to learn more about different types of genders click <\/span><\/i>here<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/i><\/a> PDF<\/p>\n

Due to a societal tendency to think of gender and sex as a binary, people who identify outside that definition are often left with little understanding of how to communicate who they are to others. Even after a person has learned the language that describes them later in life, they will still often face discrimination from others who do not accept their identity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What happens when we misuse or ignore someone\u2019s pronouns?<\/b><\/h2>\n

It may seem like a small thing, but using someone\u2019s true pronouns, the ones they identify with, can make a big impact. Imagine that someone knows your pronouns or knows your name and continuously calls you something else. If your name is Dave and your peers call you Chris because, \u201cyou look like a Chris,\u201d how would that make you feel? And then imagine strangers doing the same thing. When you say, \u201cHi, my name is Dave,\u201d they might say something like, \u201cOkay, but I\u2019m going to call you Chris.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Interactions like this can be psychologically damaging with pronoun usage as well. Having your identity disrespected by those around you might start as unpleasant, but over time it can build to become draining and truly damaging.\u00a0 Having to endure disrespect and discrimination regularly can lead to significant health consequences over a person\u2019s lifetime.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pronouns and health equity\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Most transgender people have either experienced discrimination in a health care setting, know someone who has, or have heard stories of people who have. Transgender people frequently don\u2019t receive appropriate medical care due to a combination of under-educated physicians, insurance coverage denials, discrimination, and fear of discrimination.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This can cause several significant issues, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n