POWER IN PRONOUNS

power in pronounsTransparency regarding pronouns should be encouraged, but not required.

It’s time to change the narrative. A new change

Pronouns are the words one uses to refer to someone in the third person. It has become common practice for people to share their pronouns on name tags and in introductions, email signatures and Instagram ‘bios.’

The problem

It’s not common enough.

Often, when speaking of someone in third person, one will use gender-implied pronouns, such as he/him and she/ her, which are generally associated with masculine and feminine appearances and names respectively. Sometimes, these assumptions can be incorrect. Pronouns are not always representative of one’s gender identity. Some may use specific pronouns, such as gender-neutral pronouns like ze/hir and they/them, and others may use any or none at all. Incorrect assumption of gender identity based on expression can bring discomfort, induce or trigger gender dysphoria and negatively affect mental health. What needs to happen It’s time to normalize asking others for their pronouns, even if you believe you’re sure. If one is introducing themself by name, if comfortable, their next sentence should acknowledge their pronouns. Taking this extra step during conversations will create a more welcoming environment for others to disclose their pronouns. Moreover, cisgender people—whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth— have the unique opportunity to create a more comfortable environment for non-cisgender people by normalizing giving and asking for pronouns.

But what should one do when they’re speaking of someone and can’t recall their pronouns? The best practice is to use their proper name, and if unavoidable, use gender-neutral pronouns.

According to a 2018 Pew Research Center study, 27% of adults said that they would be ‘very’ comfortable using a gender-neutral pronoun to refer to someone if asked to do so, 25% said they would be ‘somewhat’ comfortable, and the rest said they would be either ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ uncomfortable using gender-neutral pronouns. While gender-neutral

ILLUSTRATION // Aafreen Ali

pronouns have seen much more acceptance over the years, comfort is still a ways ahead. Comfort may not be a necessity, but options are—comfort may end up being a side effect.

Currently, students are not allowed to edit their names on Blackboard Collaborate, the platform used by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) to conduct virtual learning. In 2020, the ability to edit names was available to students. However, after several cases of inappropriate edits to names, the function was disabled. Now, if a student would like to display their pronouns, or remove a dead name, they are unable to do so unless they reach out to their teachers. Dead names are the names transgender individuals used before they transitioned. Reaching out to teachers requires trust and can result in a large amount of additional work as those who are gender-fluid may change their pronouns on a day-to-day basis. A small number of students’ actions have resulted in consequences for every student. Students should be able to edit their names to display pronouns, as well as to get rid of dead names. Additionally, Jefferson’s Intranet does not allow students to change their gender, another feature which dismisses students’ gender identities. Similarly, standardized testing should not limit gender and pronouns, but either include an ‘Other’ option or allow for fill-in questions so that students are not limited to just a few given choices. Their comfort comes with making discussion on this topic in-person and on-paper common practice, but for the other 48% of adults who said they were uncomfortable using gender-fluid pronouns—their comfort may come from exposure.

Importance

There is a fine line between encouragement and pressure. Individuals should be encouraged to share their pronouns, but in no way required. They should be allowed to say that they don’t know and that should be normalized. If someone chooses not to share any information about their pronouns, that must also be respected. Lastly, operating from a gender-neutral approach should always be at the tip of your tongue. It shows that you are willing to make the effort to acknowledge another’s pronouns and embrace their gender identity. It’s time to change the narrative.

Jefferson’s “Colonial” mascot is outdated, misrepresentative, and needs to change

“Goooooo This is the issue with adopting the history of our institution would Colonials!” a people, especially a group of be inevitable. We all know the individuals we do not know first- However, as a school which slogan that began hand, as a mascot. Perhaps we can highlights STEM education, fields our school day in- say that if we went back in time which inherently bring forth person. It’s iconic. and met a colonial, we would promise of a new, better tomorrow, It creates a sense find admirable qualities in that embracing change is nothing new Srilakshmi of community individual. But when we make the for us. A new mascot can still come Medarametla Staff Writer at Jefferson. It’s us. But does our Colonial our symbol, we reduce the diversity of all colonists to the to represent the same values we strive to emulate in the Jefferson school mascot, the Colonial, respect limitations of just one view of them. community today. We can choose a and represent all of us? Designating a group as a mascot symbol that respects and represents

Merriam-Webster defines inherently leads to that group’s all of us. “colonial” as “a member or objectification. To admirers, the inhabitant of a colony.” As Colonial was brave, adaptable, Americans, the British settlers who and persevering. To founded the 13 colonies first come critics, the Colonial was to mind. Historically, we praise tyrannical, repressive, these colonials for all the qualities and weak. To be a they developed as pioneers: bravery, symbol, these two adaptability, and perseverance. views of the Colonial

However, when we support the cannot coexist and Colonial as our school mascot, either story, by the we overlook its connection to very nature of its colonialism, which inherently gave singularity, cannot rise to racism, oppression, and fairly honor the economic exploitation. whole truth.

When we support the Colonial as Several schools our school mascot, we choose which have recognized truths best fit our purposes and we this issue and have bury everything else. We bury the accordingly changed fact that not only does colonialism their mascots. Late last year represent a time when American in central Massachusetts, colonists felt powerless to voice their Grafton High School opinions in British government, switched from “Indians” to but that it also perpetuated the “Gators,” and Athol High School subjugation and enslavement dumped “Red Raiders” for “Bears.” of persons of color, especially More relatably, Acton-Boxborough indigenous and African peoples. Regional High School voted to

If we bury these truths, we deny a retire their Colonial mascot last piece of our history. We deny that October based on similar concerns, which inherently influences how that the Colonial’s relation to our story continues in the present. colonialism represented “actions not As we have seen over the past year to be placed upon a pedestal.” with America’s racial reckoning, we The costs associated with cannot fix a problem that we do not changing our mascot are no acknowledge exists. small matter. A sense of loss for

PHOTO //Minjoo Song

Why we shouldn’t cancel our mascot

For over 20 years, the Colonial has graced the grounds of Jefferson High School as its official mascot. Intended to pay homage to Thomas Jefferson’s 18th century Elliott Lee origins, it often appears at Staff Writer school events in the form of a costume in the likeness of our third president. However, a growing number of voices claim that the Colonial represents a symbol that has perpetuated injustice in America and should be removed.

Colonialism as an institution has an indisputable history of exploitation and abuse of native peoples. However, incriminating the word ‘colonials’ is a shallow attempt at political correctness. ‘Colonial’ is a blanket term for a group of people whose heritage is of some mother country but have settled in a foreign land. An individual European colonist is as much of an ambassador who endorses the execution of colonialism by a government as American veterans are for the My Lai massacre. Attaching a negative connotation to the word simply because it sounds too similar to ‘colonialism’ is a worrying sign of how extensively hypersensitivity plagues our current political climate.

It’s hard to argue that the Colonial as a mascot represents any ideals of prejudice today. Rather, it is a celebration of American revolutionaries who fought for independence from imperialist Britain. Our mascot recognizes the contributions of our Founding Fathers, who espoused democracy and Enlightenment ideals such as liberty, freedom, and tolerance. Were the colonials perfect? Of course not. Many, including Thomas Jefferson, owned hundreds of slaves who remained enslaved after the owners’ deaths. Yet, our school still bears his name, because we appreciate his numerous accomplishments in science and the development of the early American government while still acknowledging his personal flaws. If we choose to kick the Colonial to the curb, what’s stopping us from doing the same to Thomas Jefferson?

ILLUSTRATION // Aafreen Ali

Why asynchronous Mondays are important this school year

Once upon and actually gives students an a time — a entire weekend to take a break pre-pandemic from staring at their computer time — stu- screen for hours. dents dreaded However, one of the main Sunday night. annoyances of asynchronous A part of the Mondays is the Monday check Annika Duneja Online Editor-in-Chief weekend only by name, it in Google form. Every Monday, I fill out my name and check was a time for the same boxes of none, none, catching up on all the work of and N/A. If I happen to forget the week before and studying the form, I am pestered with for the week to come. For many emails telling me to fill it out students, it started to feel like immediately or be marked with Saturday was the only break an unexcused absence. It is an they had before Sunday came to unnecessary addition to a day remind them of their responsi- where everyone is working on bilities. schoolwork anyway, and stu-

With the introduction of asyn- dents should not have to worry chronous Mondays this year, the about being marked absent on whole 24 hours of Monday have an asynchronous school day. become the new Sunday night. Despite this minor problem, With more school work given the decision to have asynchrothis year to make up for lost nous Mondays replaces what in-person teaching time, students would have been very ineffitend to spend their Mondays fin- cient online anchor days was a ishing up work due that day and necessary one. These days are not cramming for tests and quizzes. something that should be conThough it still is a lot of work, tinued in normal school years, this is a welcome change given but still hold importance in that it allows for more time than maintaining a balance of school a stressful Sunday night ever did, and home life for students.