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{{short description|Title that does not indicate gender}}
{{multiple issues|
{{disputed|date=October 2013}} {{Globalize|1=article|2=English|date=February 2021}}
A '''gender neutral title''' is a title that does not indicate the ], whatever it may be, of the person being formally addressed. Honorifics are used in situations when it is inappropriate to refer to someone only by their first or last name, such as when addressing a letter, or when introducing the person to others.
{{unreferenced|date=October 2013}}
{{Underlinked|date=September 2014}}
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Although varying between cultures, the use of such titles include:
A '''gender neutral title''' is an honorific titles except Miss, Mrs, Ms and Mr, for people who don't fit the gender binary and therefore don't feel that a gendered title fits their identity. It is used in formal situations when it is inappropriate to refer to someone by their first or last name only.Activists and supporters are working toward awareness and acceptance of alternative titles.
* Persons who wish not to indicate a gender (binary or otherwise)
* Persons for whom the gender is not known
* Persons whose biological sex is not on the gender binary (])
* Persons whose gender identity does not fit the gender binary<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=A Gender-Neutral Honorific|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/mx-gender-neutral-title|access-date=2021-04-01|website=www.merriam-webster.com|language=en}}</ref>


==Languages==
==Gender neutral titles==


===Mx.=== ===Global overview===
Some languages have near complete or vigorous use of gender-neutral titles in their most common forms, which in some languages may be more than one of their forms.<ref name="Berger2019">{{Cite news |title=A guide to how gender-neutral language is developing around the world |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/12/15/guide-how-gender-neutral-language-is-developing-around-world/ |newspaper=] |last=Berger |first=Miriam |date=15 December 2019 |access-date=9 August 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
{{See also|Mx.}}
'''Mx.''' is a title commonly used by ] people<ref name="Beyond the Binary: Question 23">{{cite web|url=http://cnlester.wordpress.com/2013/07/08/beyond-the-binary-question-twenty-three/|accessdate=8 November 2014}}</ref>. ] spoke about its usage and brought it into popular acceptance.{{citation needed}} Among all other gender neutral titles, Mx. is the mostly used one{{citation needed}}.


===Misc=== ===European languages===
The traditional ] of ], ], ] and ] in English all indicate the ] of the individual.<ref name="Chui2021">{{cite journal |last=Chui |first=K |title=Ms, Mr or Mx? |journal=] |volume=103 |number=8 |doi=10.1308/rcsbull.2021.141 |date=1 November 2021 |pages=389–391 |doi-access=free }}</ref>


Frauenknecht et al. at die ] published a 2021 study in the
Misc or sometimes 'misk' is another gender neutral pronoun.<ref name="Beyond the Binary: Question 23" /> The word is derived from the Latin word '''miscellus''', meaning “mixed,” following the rationale that a lot of genderqueer people would say that they have aspects of various genders at various times.
'']'' which rated 10 current human languages for only 10 job titles regarding "Gender-Inclusive Job Titles", since job titles can in most languages be used directly as titles for individuals or groups using various grammatical methods by language. Compared were Swedish, Finnish, Russian, Slovenian, Italian, Spanish, UK English,
French, German and Hungarian in order of tabling. This team found using several rank analysis systems that the trio of Swedish, Finnish and Hungarian had gender-neutral titles for all 10 jobs, UK English was close, then Russian. None of this sample of European languages fell in middle ratings. German, Romance languages (Italian, Spanish, French) and as well as Slovenian scored very low.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Frauenknecht |first1=Lisa Marie |title=Gender-Inclusive Job Titles and Gender Gap in Ten European Countries |url=https://www1.ku.de/SLF/EngluVglSW/ELiX/frauenknechtheizmanngrzega-211.pdf |website=Katholische Universität Eichstätt |publisher=12 Journal for EuroLinguistiX |access-date=12 April 2023}}</ref>


===Pr=== ===Japan===
{{nihongo||さん|San}}, sometimes pronounced {{nihongo||はん|han}} in ], is the most common honorific and is a title of respect typically used between equals of any age. Although the closest analog in English are the honorifics "Mr", "Miss", "Ms" or "Mrs", ''-san'' is almost universally added to a person's name; ''-san'' can be used in formal and informal contexts, regardless of the person's gender.<ref>{{Cite web|title=-さん {{!}} definition in the Japanese-English Dictionary - Cambridge Dictionary|url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/japanese-english/%E3%81%95%E3%82%93|access-date=2020-11-07|website=dictionary.cambridge.org|language=en}}</ref>
{{See also|Pr(title)}}
'''Pr''' is used as gender neutral title to replace 'he' or 'she'.


===Ind=== === Thailand ===
''Khun'' ({{lang|th|คุณ}}) is a ], pronounced with a middle ], in the ] used informally to courteously address someone irrespective of gender.<ref>{{cite web
'''Ind''', which stands for Individual, is a newly created gender-neutral title. This title may be more appropriate for those who do not feel Mx meets their gender-neutral standards, since Mx inherently stands for "mix". Ind was created to be free of gender, entirely, thus making it a better option for agender and gender nonconforming persons.
|url= http://www.into-asia.com/thai_language/grammar/you.php
|title= Thai words for 'you'
|access-date= 22 April 2010
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160417194617/http://www.into-asia.com/thai_language/grammar/you.php
|archive-date= 17 April 2016
|url-status= dead
}}</ref>


==English language==

===History===

====Origins====
"Mx" was first used in print in 1977, and it is unknown whether there was spoken usage before that.<ref name=":2" /> There is some confusion surrounding when Mx became a common way for persons to prefer to be addressed; however, there have been numerous cases of Mx in print from 1977 up until the early 2000s, when usage became more popular.<ref>{{Cite web|last=themself|first=Nat|date=2014-08-28|title=When was the Mx gender-inclusive title created?|url=https://practicalandrogyny.com/2014/08/28/when-was-the-mx-gender-inclusive-title-created/|access-date=2021-04-01|website=Practical Androgyny|language=en}}</ref> The ] and ] English dictionaries added Mx in 2015 and 2016, respectively.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-08-27|title=Gender-Neutral Title Mx Added to Oxford English Dictionary|url=http://www.out.com/news-opinion/2015/8/27/gender-neutral-title-mx-added-oxford-english-dictionary|access-date=2021-04-01|website=www.out.com|language=en}}</ref>

===Titles in use or proposed for common use ===

'''Ind''' stands for individual.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Gender Neutral Titles and Why They Matter {{!}} Equality Institute - Empower Your Team to Lead With Inclusion|url=https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/non-traditional-honorifics-and-why-they-matter|access-date=2021-01-26|website=Equality Institute|language=en-US}}</ref>

'''M''' is the first letter of most gendered titles, both masculine and feminine. The title "M" simply removes the following letters that would designate gender.<ref name=":0" />

'''Misc''' stands for miscellaneous.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Orley |first1=Elizabeth |title=Honorifics and Gender Neutral Alternatives |url=https://littlemindbooks.com/honorifics-and-gender-neutral-alternatives/ |website=littlemindbooks.com |publisher=Little Mind Books |access-date=26 November 2022 |date=September 3, 2021}}</ref>

'''Mre''' is short for the word "mystery".<ref name=":0" />

'''Msr''' is a combination of "Miss", a feminine title, and "Sir", which is typically masculine.<ref name=":0" />

''']''' is a title commonly used by ] as well as those who do not identify with the gender binary, and first appeared in print in the 1970s.<ref name="SundayTimesDict">{{cite web|url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article1551885.ece|title=Now pick Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms . . . or Mx for no specific gender|url-access=subscription|date=3 May 2015|publisher=The Sunday Times|access-date=4 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606171249/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article1551885.ece|archive-date=June 6, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/11597192/Whats-it-like-to-be-a-Mx.html |title= What's it like to be a Mx? |author= Olivia Goldhill |work= The Telegraph |date= 11 May 2015 |access-date= 1 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512185007/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/11597192/Whats-it-like-to-be-a-Mx.html |archive-date=May 12, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The "x" is intended to stand as a wildcard character, and does not imply a "mixed" gender. Pronunciation of "Mx" is not yet standardized; it is frequently pronounced "mix" but sometimes with a ] as "məx", or even as "em-ex".

'''Mt''' can stand for either Mistrum or Mont. Mistrum is the result of removing the "er" from mister and the "ress" from mistress. The Latin neutral form of "tor" and "trix", is "trum". Mont is a nature-oriented choice. It can be a reference to the root of the origin word for Mr/Ms, which is Magis. Magis means great or high.

'''Mg''' stands for Magis. Related to Magister, an origin word for Mr/Ms.

'''Pr''' is short for the word "person", pronounced "per".<ref name=":0" />

== Professional and military titles ==
In many cases, gender-non-conforming individuals have used professional titles such as Captain, Doctor, or Coach to avoid gendered titles.<ref name="Ubom2022">{{cite journal |last1=Ubom |first1=A.E. |last2=Adeyemo |first2=A. |last3=Adesunkanmi |first3=A.O. |date=February 2022 |title=We Asked the Experts: Use of Gendered Titles by Surgeons—A Boon or Bane? |journal=] |volume=46 |issue=2 |pages=337–338 |doi=10.1007/s00268-021-06349-0 |doi-access=free |pmid=34671842 }}</ref> This practice is seen in the media, frequently in the case of women attempting to avoid the discrimination associated with femininity in professional settings.<ref name="Nelson2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/he-speaks-she-speaks/202101/gendered-recognition-of-titles|title=Gendered Recognition of Titles|date=4 January 2021|last=Nelson|first=Audrey|publisher=]|access-date=9 August 2023}}</ref>

'''Dr''', referring to one who has obtained a ], ], or other doctorate-level degree. Some non-binary people who have achieved such schooling prefer to use this title as it does not inherently indicate any one gender.<ref name="Ubom2022" />

==Trans in the US==
Activists, supporters and groups such as the Trans Educators Network, ], and ] are working toward awareness and acceptance of alternative honorifics, including ].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Savage|first=Rachel|date=2021-01-21|title=White House website adds gender-neutral pronouns as Biden meets LGBT+ demands|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-lgbt-trfn-idUSKBN29Q2BK|access-date=2021-04-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ms., Mr., or Mx.? Nonbinary teachers embrace gender-neutral honorific|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/ms-mr-or-mx-nonbinary-teachers-embrace-gender-neutral-honorific-n960456|access-date=2021-04-01|website=NBC News|date=20 January 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]

==References==
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}



Latest revision as of 20:39, 26 October 2024

Title that does not indicate gender
Globe icon.The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the English-speaking world and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate. (February 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

A gender neutral title is a title that does not indicate the gender identity, whatever it may be, of the person being formally addressed. Honorifics are used in situations when it is inappropriate to refer to someone only by their first or last name, such as when addressing a letter, or when introducing the person to others.

Although varying between cultures, the use of such titles include:

  • Persons who wish not to indicate a gender (binary or otherwise)
  • Persons for whom the gender is not known
  • Persons whose biological sex is not on the gender binary (intersex)
  • Persons whose gender identity does not fit the gender binary

Languages

Global overview

Some languages have near complete or vigorous use of gender-neutral titles in their most common forms, which in some languages may be more than one of their forms.

European languages

The traditional honorifics of Miss, Mrs, Ms and Mr in English all indicate the binary gender of the individual.

Frauenknecht et al. at die Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt published a 2021 study in the Journal for EuroLinguistiX which rated 10 current human languages for only 10 job titles regarding "Gender-Inclusive Job Titles", since job titles can in most languages be used directly as titles for individuals or groups using various grammatical methods by language. Compared were Swedish, Finnish, Russian, Slovenian, Italian, Spanish, UK English, French, German and Hungarian in order of tabling. This team found using several rank analysis systems that the trio of Swedish, Finnish and Hungarian had gender-neutral titles for all 10 jobs, UK English was close, then Russian. None of this sample of European languages fell in middle ratings. German, Romance languages (Italian, Spanish, French) and as well as Slovenian scored very low.

Japan

San (さん), sometimes pronounced han (はん) in Kansai dialect, is the most common honorific and is a title of respect typically used between equals of any age. Although the closest analog in English are the honorifics "Mr", "Miss", "Ms" or "Mrs", -san is almost universally added to a person's name; -san can be used in formal and informal contexts, regardless of the person's gender.

Thailand

Khun (คุณ) is a courtesy title, pronounced with a middle tone, in the Thai language used informally to courteously address someone irrespective of gender.

English language

History

Origins

"Mx" was first used in print in 1977, and it is unknown whether there was spoken usage before that. There is some confusion surrounding when Mx became a common way for persons to prefer to be addressed; however, there have been numerous cases of Mx in print from 1977 up until the early 2000s, when usage became more popular. The Oxford and Merriam-Webster English dictionaries added Mx in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Titles in use or proposed for common use

Ind stands for individual.

M is the first letter of most gendered titles, both masculine and feminine. The title "M" simply removes the following letters that would designate gender.

Misc stands for miscellaneous.

Mre is short for the word "mystery".

Msr is a combination of "Miss", a feminine title, and "Sir", which is typically masculine.

Mx is a title commonly used by non-binary people as well as those who do not identify with the gender binary, and first appeared in print in the 1970s. The "x" is intended to stand as a wildcard character, and does not imply a "mixed" gender. Pronunciation of "Mx" is not yet standardized; it is frequently pronounced "mix" but sometimes with a schwa as "məx", or even as "em-ex".

Mt can stand for either Mistrum or Mont. Mistrum is the result of removing the "er" from mister and the "ress" from mistress. The Latin neutral form of "tor" and "trix", is "trum". Mont is a nature-oriented choice. It can be a reference to the root of the origin word for Mr/Ms, which is Magis. Magis means great or high.

Mg stands for Magis. Related to Magister, an origin word for Mr/Ms.

Pr is short for the word "person", pronounced "per".

Professional and military titles

In many cases, gender-non-conforming individuals have used professional titles such as Captain, Doctor, or Coach to avoid gendered titles. This practice is seen in the media, frequently in the case of women attempting to avoid the discrimination associated with femininity in professional settings.

Dr, referring to one who has obtained a PhD, MD, or other doctorate-level degree. Some non-binary people who have achieved such schooling prefer to use this title as it does not inherently indicate any one gender.

Trans in the US

Activists, supporters and groups such as the Trans Educators Network, The Trevor Project, and GLAAD are working toward awareness and acceptance of alternative honorifics, including Mx.

See also

References

  1. ^ "A Gender-Neutral Honorific". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
  2. Berger, Miriam (15 December 2019). "A guide to how gender-neutral language is developing around the world". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  3. Chui, K (1 November 2021). "Ms, Mr or Mx?". Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. 103 (8): 389–391. doi:10.1308/rcsbull.2021.141.
  4. Frauenknecht, Lisa Marie. "Gender-Inclusive Job Titles and Gender Gap in Ten European Countries" (PDF). Katholische Universität Eichstätt. 12 Journal for EuroLinguistiX. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  5. "-さん | definition in the Japanese-English Dictionary - Cambridge Dictionary". dictionary.cambridge.org. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
  6. "Thai words for 'you'". Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  7. themself, Nat (2014-08-28). "When was the Mx gender-inclusive title created?". Practical Androgyny. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
  8. "Gender-Neutral Title Mx Added to Oxford English Dictionary". www.out.com. 2015-08-27. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
  9. ^ "Gender Neutral Titles and Why They Matter | Equality Institute - Empower Your Team to Lead With Inclusion". Equality Institute. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  10. Orley, Elizabeth (September 3, 2021). "Honorifics and Gender Neutral Alternatives". littlemindbooks.com. Little Mind Books. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  11. "Now pick Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms . . . or Mx for no specific gender". The Sunday Times. 3 May 2015. Archived from the original on June 6, 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  12. Olivia Goldhill (11 May 2015). "What's it like to be a Mx?". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  13. ^ Ubom, A.E.; Adeyemo, A.; Adesunkanmi, A.O. (February 2022). "We Asked the Experts: Use of Gendered Titles by Surgeons—A Boon or Bane?". World Journal of Surgery. 46 (2): 337–338. doi:10.1007/s00268-021-06349-0. PMID 34671842.
  14. Nelson, Audrey (4 January 2021). "Gendered Recognition of Titles". Psychology Today. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  15. Savage, Rachel (2021-01-21). "White House website adds gender-neutral pronouns as Biden meets LGBT+ demands". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
  16. "Ms., Mr., or Mx.? Nonbinary teachers embrace gender-neutral honorific". NBC News. 20 January 2019. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
English social honorific titles
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