As my company expands our search for upper-level management in America, we’ve observed that about a quarter of people at this level have declared their pronouns in their bios. This led to some confusion among my Southeast Asian recruitment team, who wondered why men and women were sharing what they perceived as obvious information. After reflecting on this, I addressed the matter briefly in a team meeting.
I explained that there is a small group of people who do not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth. Since these individuals may not identify with the gender they appear to be, they declare their pronouns to avoid being misgendered. My team remarked that there must be a lot of people in America with gender-identity conflicts. I clarified that, in fact, most people who include pronouns in their bios do so to show support and solidarity with those who are gender-nonconforming.
A useful question arose during the discussion: what should we do with this information? After considering this, I explained that, given my understanding of American politics and culture, declaring pronouns in a professional profile is often an indication of a liberal worldview and empathy for marginalized groups. However, beyond that, it is challenging to derive much more meaningful information.
The conversation then shifted to whether declaring my own pronouns would benefit our recruitment efforts. I responded that I would not be doing so, and I shared my reasoning. Firstly, I believe that the vast majority of people declaring their pronouns have good intentions. They want to express support for normalizing identities outside the traditional “gender binary.” This aligns with my general philosophy that people are mostly well-intentioned, especially when they perceive an injustice.
However, I questioned whether my professional bio is the appropriate platform for this support. To answer this, I posed two questions to myself: Are injustices being committed against these marginalized individuals? And if so, will declaring my pronouns help them right now? While I am sympathetic to the challenges faced by gender-nonconforming individuals, I have not seen sufficient evidence to suggest that such injustices require my immediate action.
This leads to my second question: will declaring my own pronouns actually help these people? While I understand that this gesture is meant to normalize gender non-conformity, I am cautious about normalizing something that is, by definition, not the norm. I admit that I don’t know enough about gender non-conformity to decide if it’s a mental health issue, trauma-induced, or simply a marginalized identity. Perhaps it’s all three, or none. I haven’t reached a conclusion, and I’m not sure I ever will.
I believe strongly in reserving my voice and support for matters where I have direct experience. Over the past two decades, I have spent most of my time in Southeast Asia, where these concepts are relatively unheard of. While I do not doubt the sincerity of those advocating for gender rights, it’s not a topic I have much experience with, and I don’t feel it’s my place to get involved in issues that don’t impact my immediate environment.
Theoretically, I support people who want to fight for their rights. If the battle was on my doorstep, I might feel more strongly one way or another. But it’s not on my doorstep. Like most people, if there were injustices around me and my involvement was necessary and useful, I would lend a hand. But I do not wish to lead the life of an activist; I prefer to focus on issues where I can have a direct and meaningful impact.
So, what do I think about pronouns? For me, personally, I believe that my LinkedIn bio should reflect the human face of my organization. The gender issue is highly politicized, and I observe that those who declare their pronouns tend to be very politically active, while those who don’t are much less so. I prefer to keep my politics to myself and assume that most people, regardless of their political views, are good, fair, and honest.
As the CEO of a growing company, I set the tone for how I want my company to be perceived. I ensure that everyone I hire understands that we are fair, honest, and flexible. We offer a generous compensation structure, work entirely from home, pay our workforce promptly, and provide ample opportunities for those who are committed. These are the values I prioritize in conveying to my current and prospective staff.
But is this enough? Should I also declare my pronouns to signal that our workplace is a safe space for gender-nonconforming individuals? What I do know is that the idea of gender has become a political hot topic in America, and it will eventually cool down as the debates play out publicly. Until that happens, I choose to observe rather than participate. I don’t like how politics has infiltrated the workplace in America, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that my companies remain free of political declarations. Given two equally qualified candidates, I would prefer to select the one whose politics are unknown to me. In the current political climate, pronouns have become a political statement. My intention is not to persuade one way or another but to explain why some people find it important.
In the end, I was able to help my team better understand the priorities of the candidates they were reviewing, even if they remained somewhat uninterested. To them, pronoun declaration seemed like a strange cultural behavior they would never fully grasp, and they were not particularly keen on delving deeper into it.
Though I oversee the development of sophisticated software solutions using cutting-edge digital technology, culturally, I am detached from America. I’ve spent most of my adult life outside the U.S., living in rural India in a farming community in the foothills of the Himalayas. My neighbors, though living simpler lives, own their homes and land outright, without the burden of mortgages or loans. Their concerns are far removed from debates over gender identity, and so are mine, except where necessary to guide my team through cultural nuances.
In conclusion, while I respect the intentions behind declaring pronouns, I do not feel compelled to do so myself. I focus on the values and issues that directly impact my company and my life, and I encourage my team to do the same, understanding that we are all navigating a complex and diverse world in our own ways.