At the Mind & Life Institute, we see all of humanity as interconnected. By cultivating greater awareness of this interconnection, we aspire to create positive change in the world. We make choices every day to live and share our mission, which includes the decision to invite staff to volunteer their personal pronouns in digital communications (e.g., email and video chat).
When referring to other people in English, we often use pronouns, commonly gendered masculine or feminine. Our choice of pronouns is frequently made using an assumption of gender based on a person’s name or appearance. At Mind & Life we recognize that these assumptions may not always be accurate, and that using binary, gendered language has the potential to cause suffering and reinforce harmful cultural stereotypes. We intend to foster respect as we become a more inclusive community, and we hope that the option to volunteer personal pronouns helps build genuine connection and affirm individual dignity.
