Parliament’s pronoun rule change isn’t going to ruin your life | Emily Olle

State parliament’s move to gender-inclusive language isn’t a “pronoun extremist woke agenda”, it’s common decency, writes Emily Olle.

The other day, I found a wallet on the ground. I didn’t know whose it was, but wanted to find its owner to try and reunite them with their belongings.*

I digress. This week, it was revealed that gender-specific terms including he, she, him and her would be removed from state parliament‘s rules of procedure following a recommendation to switch to language that is neutral of gender and sexual identity.

The changes, which have been adopted following a review of the Lower House standing orders, will replace gendered pronouns with they, their and them.

“His Majesty” will be replaced with “the sovereign” and “Her Excellency” will instead become “the governor”.

When referring to the leader of parliamentary committees, the term “chairman” will be replaced with “chair”.

Now, to Governor Frances Adamson or King Charles – if you’re reading this – I would be happy to hear and discuss your personal qualms with these changes.

But if you are one of the quite significant portion of the population whose honorific isn’t His Majesty or Her Excellency, I have to ask – how does this affect you?

The Honourable Frances Adamson AC is welcome to raise her concerns directly with the journalist. Picture: Supplied

Of course, the argument can be made that government time could be better spent addressing the state’s ramping crisis – although, as Greens MLC Robert Simms said, parliament is “capable of walking and chewing gum at the same time”.

But I mean in real, tangible terms. What is the negative effect of gender-inclusive terminology on your personal life and being? Nobody is going to stop calling you “Mr” or “Mrs” (if that’s how you choose to identify).

Because I can tell you what its positive effect is.

All the way back in 2009, US professor of cognitive science Lera Boroditsky wrote in an essay on language use, “even what might be deemed frivolous aspects of language can have far-reaching subconscious effects on how we see the world.”

The more normalised gender-inclusive language becomes, the easier it is for our brains to process its use in everyday life.

Language has, for the course of human history, been an ever-changing beast. English is derived from North Sea Germanic languages, and highly influenced by Romance languages, but if I started speaking to you in Northumbrian I imagine you’d ask if my time-travelling DeLorean had a few screws loose.

Even in the past century, thousands of words, terms and phrases have become outdated or been deemed offensive as society evolves.

Just because something challenges your mind at first attempt – like using gender-inclusive language – doesn’t mean it’s wrong. It simply means change.

We aren't still speaking Old Saxon, so I reckon we can figure out a little change in pronouns.

I couldn’t understand French at first, but now I can comfortably count to 10 or ask you how much an Eiffel Tower keychain will cost me.

If even the French – one of the more gender-centric languages in the world – can figure out how to refer to non-binary folk, I reckon us English speakers can manage.

Gendered terminology has been going out of fashion well before the last decade’s explosion of the “transgender debate”.

Large parts of the English language don’t even consider gender with regard to titles. We don’t have doctors and doctresses, or journalists and journalesses.

Those who use non-gender specific pronouns aren’t asking for you to use them for yourself, they’re simply asking to be given the decency of understanding.

The more we see “they/them” used in the public forum, the more comfortable we’ll become using it in our personal spaces. That’s how the brain works – and the beauty of humanity. We can grow, we can learn and, for the most part, we can have empathy.

If it really pains you to describe someone as “they” or you feel like state parliament’s “pronoun extremist woke agenda” is negatively impacting your life – I’d suggest getting one instead.

*Last note: if you made it this far, congratulations. You read they/them in a grammatically correct, non-gender specific sentence! How easy was that.