I just want to ask for a second opinion. The other day I saw an exchange in a discord group I'm in that threw me off, it was about someone asking if they could use other pronouns for someone with the neo-pronouns "kitten/kittenself" because they said it sounded too weird and sexual to call someone who's not your partner kitten. They started getting a bunch of hate for it from other people in the group saying they were nb phobic. I'm nonbinary myself and I do use neo pronouns, but I completely agree with this person, I would never call someone kitten (I've also seen a lot of people with the pronouns pup or puppy, which I also think it's super weird). Am I actually the bad guy in this situation?? If so, why?
Hello, dear. Okay so I’ve been thinking about this for AGES, and I want to state now a reminder that I am in no way the authority on identity or neo-pronouns, this is just what I’ve been thinking. I also am not interested in this becoming discourse, anon and I are having an informed discussion on a topic we are learning about. Now, to the thoughts.
So I think that what’s important to know here is the social implication of words. Pronouns like he/she/they/xe have little preconceived social connection beyond their existence as pronouns, because that all they are and have been. We don’t connect them to anything else directly, in example in English (USA) she isn’t a synonym for bird or anything else that I know of. So when we hear she, most of us don’t automatically think of birds.
Neo-pronouns lean into the use of words that have another meaning. Leaf/leafself connects a person to a plant like aspect in their and other minds. That’s part of what’s neat about them! You can choose a sort of energy to convey in who you are and what you’re called. That’s all wonderful, but then we do also have to think about the social implications of certain words. Because calling someone pup/kitten/baby/darling etc. has socially charged meaning.
If the persons refusal to use the neo-pronouns was based on a general hatred or ignorance of them, that would be wrong. But I don’t personally think they are wrong for not wanting to call the person kitten, as culturally for many people calling a person that has romantic or sexual connotations. Calling their neo-pronouns weird wasn’t the way to go though, that’s not necessary.
The person can use those neo-pronouns, that’s up to them and they should do what makes them happy and comfortable. But not everyone will want to call them those things. I wouldn’t want to call someone kitten/kittenself because I have seen it directly related to sexual content and pet names for sexual partners more than anything else. If they have other neo-pronouns I would be happy to use those, and that’s what makes the distinction between enby-phobia and personal and social discomfort.
I am slightly concerned by any group that refuses a meaningful and kind discussion of such topics like this, as this seems like something with a unique perspective from each person. Neo-pronouns are a really interesting things, and we’re still figuring out how they work with societal connotations.
That’s my two cents. I hope this makes sense! Again just my thoughts as of now, I’m still learning.