Including your pronouns on Brightspace

Did you know that you could include your pronouns on Brightspace? Why would you include your pronouns? Where would they show? And how can you update this? The following article answers some common questions.

First, what are pronouns?

Pronouns are what we use to address ourselves and each other. Some possible pronouns include, for example, ‘he, him, his’, ‘she, her, hers’, and ‘they, them, theirs’. In Dutch, some examples are 'hij, hem, zijn', 'zij, haar, haar,' and 'die, hen, hun'. 

Here are a few examples:

• ‘Max went to the store. He rode his bike. The owner said hello to him.’ The pronouns used to refer to Max in this sentence are he, him, his.

• ‘Jip went to the store. She rode her bike. The owner said hello to her.’ The pronouns used to refer to Jip in this sentence are she, her, hers.

• ‘I wonder whose bike this is. It seems like they’ve forgotten that their bike is here. I feel bad for them.' The pronouns used to refer to the unknown person in this sentence are they, them, their.

• ‘Sam has an exam tomorrow. They have studied hard. Their parents will visit them afterwards.’ The pronouns used to refer to Sam in this sentence are they, them, their.

• ‘Alex is walking back to Alex’s home.’ This sentence uses Alex’s name instead of other pronouns.

Why would I share my pronouns on Brightspace?

People cannot know other people’s pronouns based on their name or what they look like. Therefore, sharing your pronouns makes sure that others know how to refer to you.

Additionally, sharing pronouns normalizes the understanding of various gender identities, and can create safe spaces for trans and non-binary people in particular. In our international and diverse community, we cannot know someone’s gender based on their name alone. Sharing pronouns helps us to make the University an inclusive and safe environment for everyone.

However, not everyone feels comfortable sharing their pronouns, for a variety of reasons, and that is okay! You do not have to share your pronouns if you do not want to.

How can I share my pronouns?

To include your pronouns on Brightspace, you can follow these steps:

1. Open your Brightspace account.

2. On the upper right-hand corner of your screen, click on your name.

3. A drop-down box will appear. Click on 'Account Settings.' ('Accountinstellingen')

4. On the first tab, 'Account Settings' you will see a section labeled 'Pronouns'. ('Voornaamwoorden')

5. Check the box next to 'Allow others to see my pronouns.' ('Laat anderen mijn voornaamwoorden zien')

6. Select 'Use different pronouns.' ('Gebruik verschillende voornaamwoorden:') Type your pronouns into the text box.

7. At the bottom of the screen, click 'Save and Close' ('Opslaan en sluiten') or 'Save' ('Opslaan').

Who will see my pronouns?

When you put your pronouns in Brightspace, they will be visible in the following spaces:

• The list of Course Members (visible to the lecturers of a course)

• On your profile card that is shown in different areas (Discussion board - visible to fellow students; Class Progress - visible to lecturers)

• Brightspace administrators can see pronouns in reports

What do I do if someone has a pronoun that I’m not familiar with?

If someone has a pronoun that you are not familiar with, below are a few tips:

• Ask the person how they would like to be referred to. It is usually best to ask the person in private.

• If you make a mistake, that is okay! If you use the wrong pronouns, say something like 'Sorry, I meant (insert pronoun).' If you only realize later, apologize in private. It's best not to make a big deal out of it, as that could make the person feel uncomfortable.

• If you hear someone using the wrong pronouns for someone else, gently correct them.

Who can I contact for help?

If you would like more information about using pronouns, please contact the Diversity & Inclusion Office (diversity rug.nl). If you would like more information about the technical aspects of Brightspace, please visit EDU Support or contact them by email.