Oxford Students Told to Use ‘Ze’ Instead of ‘He’ or ‘She’ by Donna Rachel Edmunds12 Dec 2016
Students at Oxford University have been told to use the pronoun “ze” rather than “he” or “she” to eliminate discrimination against transgender people.
Guidance offered in a leaflet by the students’ union advises against using traditional pronouns, arguing that doing so suggests there are only two genders. Deliberately using the wrong pronoun for a transgendered person is an offence under the union’s code of conduct.
Peter Tatchell, an LGBT rights campaigner, has welcomed the move, telling Mail Online: “It is a positive thing to not always emphasise gender divisions and barriers.”
He said: “It is good to have gender-neutral pronouns for those who want them but it shouldn’t be compulsory.
“This issue isn’t about being politically correct or censoring anyone. It’s about acknowledging the fact of changing gender identities and respecting people’s right to not define themselves as male or female.
“Giving people the ‘ze’ option is a thoughtful, considerate move.”
Cambridge University has also indicated that it would like to follow a similar path. Sophie Buck, welfare officer of the students’ union, said: “Events start with a speaker introducing themselves using a gender neutral pronoun.
“It’s part of a drive to make the union intersectional.”