Different Generations Attitudes Towards Gender Pronouns
OnePoll’s research team carried out an study looking into attitudes towards gender pronouns, and the growing trend in younger generation identifying as non-gendered pronouns.
Nearly a quarter (23%) of Gen Z now identify using a non-gendered pronoun like ‘they/them’, according to the new study.
Younger generations are openly embracing differences between birth sex and gender identification – though this can’t be said for the whole population, as highlighted by the survey of 2,036 Brits.
Nearly half (48%) of those polled aged 18-24 now state their pronoun on their email signature or social profiles.
While this is intended to help normalise being aware of what people’s pronouns are – words we use in everyday language to refer to ourselves or others – and using them correctly, many respondents see it as ‘virtue-signalling’.
Overall, nearly half (45%) of those polled were supportive of people having the right to identify with a gender other than their birth sex, but as many as 34% were against it, and 19% undecided.
It seems to be older generations who aren’t so sure. Overall, the majority of the British public thinks the debate has gone too far, with 62% believing the issue is now ‘disproportionately’ represented in public discourse. But this rises to 78% among those over 65, and falls to 48% of Gen Z.
A similar majority (63%) think British institutions are over-reacting to sensitivities around pronouns. This sentiment peaks in those aged 55-64 (79%), and falls to just 33% among 18-24-year-olds, of which 44% think it is proportionate.
There’s also opposition among older generations towards the removal of pronouns in phrases like ‘Gingerbread Man’ in favour of ‘Gingerbread person’, according to the study. Other more everyday examples could be ‘businessperson’ instead of ‘businessman’ or ‘actor’ for all genders, to be more inclusive.
The story was covered in The Telegraph, Yahoo, AOL as well as Reach titles.
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