I don't correct people about my pronouns anymore, and I hate that
ive realised recently that I won't correct people when they use the wrong pronouns for me, and I tell people about my pronouns identity less (for context I'm non-binary and use they/them pronouns). And when I think about it, I think I know why.
When I first came out I was great about correcting people about my pronouns, but now? I stay silent. I want to correct people, most people would try their best to use the right pronouns. But I'm scared.
While being open about my pronouns to everyone ment that I was able to feel more confident in my identity, it also ment that so so many people knew about them. Some of those people that I didn't even know.
And that is why it slowly tore down my confidence when it came to correcting people and my identity.
People I didn't know would come up to me and refer to me as "a they/them" or walk past and say "it's the they/them". It was objectifying and dehumanizing, like I wasn't a human being in their eyes. I hated it.
The breaking point was a few years ago now when a kid I had never seen before came up to me and ranted about how God only created two genders and how I shouldn't feel this way and that I should cease to exist. Now I'm not religious, but that hurt.
I only really tell my friends/people I trust my pronouns now or if someone directly asks. I am slowly getting better at correcting people again, but this never should have happened in the first place.
We should all be able to feel comfortable disclosing pronouns with everyone, because identity is important.
I don't really know how to end this other than to say that I wish I always could've been able to correct others because of how much I dislike it when someone uses the wrong pronouns. I am a human being and I'd like to be treated as such.
Finally a thank you to my close friends (hi if ur reading this) and family who support me, help to correct people when they use the wrong pronouns and who have reassured me that I'm allowed to switch around pronouns/names because it's not a burden to me, it means a lot.
