top of page
Misgender
(verb)
“Misgendering”, whether intentionally or unintentionally, means referring to a transgender or nonbinary person with pronouns or honorifics that do not align with their gender identity (Source).
Examples: Ms. Williams misgendered Jess, who uses “she/her” pronouns, by referring to her with “he/him” pronouns while telling another student, “he is your labmate.”
Why it’s important for school staff to know this: When a transgender or nonbinary student is misgendered, they feel invalidated and unseen. Over time, this can become a burden that negatively impacts their mental health and school performance (Source). If or when you misgender someone, it is important to apologize, correct yourself, and move on.
bottom of page