Pronouns and Chosen Name
Pronouns and Chosen Name
The Chicago School is committed to being a learning community that fosters an environment of mutual respect and inclusion where diversity and human rights are valued and where the learning environment is enhanced by each community member. Using a student’s pronouns and chosen name are an important part of cultivating an inclusive environment for all Chicago School community members. This page will highlight what pronouns and chosen name are and how The Chicago School utilizes them throughout the academic experience.
What is a pronoun?
A pronoun is a word used to refer to the people who are talking (I or you) or a person being talked about in the third person (she/her, he/him, they/them).
What is a chosen name?
A chosen name is the use of a name (usually first name) that may be different from a person’s legal name; sometimes known as a nickname, or a name-in-use
Words are powerful. Check out the below, brief video on the challenges some folks can face utilizing their pronouns and chosen name and how using them inclusively impacts the community.
Additional information on the importance of pronouns can be found at Pronouns.org.
Deadnaming is the act of calling a transgender person by an incorrect name; often the name they were given at birth and no longer use. A person’s chosen name is an integral part of their identity and often reflects their own journey toward self-discovery.
How to avoid deadnaming
In order to avoid deadnaming someone, you must commit to using their current (chosen) name. Even when telling past stories about the person.
Oftentimes, misgendering and deadnaming happen by accident. If you catch your mistake, there is no need to give long-winded excuses. Quickly apologize and correct yourself.
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For many transgender and non-binary individuals, being consistently misgendered and/or deadnamed is deeply hurtful and invalidating. It often triggers feelings of anxiety, depression, and alienation from society. Misgendering and deadnaming can even expose them to anti-trans violence and unsafe experiences. Several studies show that when you use someone’s correct pronouns and name, it drastically decreases that person’s thoughts of suicide, depression, and anxiety. This is especially true for transgender youth.
Source: National Institutes of Health
Inclusion around pronouns and chosen name have evolved to meet the needs of all community members. Names and pronouns have historically been referred to as a “preferred name” or “preferred gender pronouns.”
This nomenclature is now dated. Someone’s identity is not preferred – it’s their identity.
Preferred pronouns = pronouns
Preferred name/nickname = chosen name
The Chicago School platforms offer several opportunities to update your pronouns and chosen name:
- Application for Admission
- Canvas (click Account > Settings > Edit Settings > Display Name and Pronouns)
- Student Gateway
- Chicago School email display name:
- Submit a chosen name change through the Student Gateway.
- If the request would affect the username (e.g., Bob Smith → Christy Smith, bsmith@ → csmith@), the IT Help Desk will contact you to ask if you want your email updated.
- If no email or username change is needed, the request is processed automatically.
- If you confirm you want your email and username updated, the Help Desk processes the change each Wednesday.
Note: A student’s legal first name will be used for unofficial and official transcripts, enrollment reporting, financial aid and student account records, student employment records, student conduct files, external reporting, federal immigration documents, and other official records where a legal name is required by law or school policy. More information can be found in the Chosen Name policy in the Student Handbook.
- Consider sharing your pronouns – Email signature, Zoom name, in conversation. In a meeting: Hi everyone. I’m River, and I use she/her pronouns.
- Use they or their wherever possible. Instead of “Hey guys!” or “Welcome ladies!”, use “Welcome everyone!”
- Avoid gendered assumptions
- This person is wearing pink and has long hair, so I will use “she.”
- This person is wearing a tie and has short hair, so I will use “he.”
- Avoid intrusive or personal questions of trans and non-binary people
- Encourage your colleagues and communities to be more gender inclusive
- Use good judgment
- Bystander intervention – if you see something, say something
- Reach out for support – Student Success, Student Support
- Be mindful in your words and actions
- Share your pronouns to facilitate safer, more comfortable learning environments.
- Say “Thank you” instead of “I’m sorry” to own responsibility if you make a mistake
- Be kind to yourself
- Everyone is on their own journey of understanding.