Oxford University
is encouraging students to use the gender-neutral pronoun 'ze' instead of
'she and 'he'.
The students' union wrote in a leaflet that the
move was intended to reduce the risk of transgender students being
offended. Students hope that the use of ‘ze’ will continue into university
lectures and seminars, reported The Sunday Times.
According to
Oxford University's behavior code, using the wrong pronoun to define a
transgender person is an offence. Peter Tatchell, an LGBT rights
campaigner, told MailOnline: 'It is a positive thing to not always emphasis
gender divisions and barriers.
'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 made the indication that they also wanted to move in a similar
direction.
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.'
Franky Sissons, a transgender student at King's
College at Cambridge said: 'Gender neutral pronouns are
good...It should happen in lectures too.'
The Mail on Sunday recently
reported on a a guidebook for teachers, parents and pupils to that had be
sent to schools around Britain advising against using language that
suggests there are only two genders.
It encouraged
avoiding using the terms 'boys' and 'girls' in case of potentially
offending transgender pupils.
Jordan
Peterson, a professor in Canada, uploaded a video on YouTube discussing his
refusal to use gender neural pronouns.
He said he was heckled and his office door was glued shut. He said:
'UK universities should resist this. Whole disciplines have become
irretrievable from these doctrines.'source
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