Pronoun game

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"Playing the pronoun game" is the act of concealing sexual orientation in conversation by not using a gender-specific pronoun for a partner or a lover, which would reveal the sexual orientation of the person speaking. Someone may employ the pronoun game when conversing with people to whom they have not "come out". In a situation in which revealing one's sexual orientation would have adverse consequences (such as the loss of a job), playing the pronoun game is seen to be a necessary act of concealment.

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The pronoun game involves avoiding reference to one's sexual orientation and allowing the listener's assumptions on the matter to prevail. It also involves not drawing the listener's attention to the fact that the sex of a pronoun's antecedent is not being specified. As such, playing the pronoun game involves

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gender neutrality in languages with grammatical gender</span> Usage of wording balanced in its treatment of the genders in a non-grammatical sense

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gender in English</span> Overview about gender in English language

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preferred gender pronoun</span> Third person individual gender pronouns

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References

  1. "Anthropological Diary" . Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  2. Ray, Vinnie (May 10, 2001). "Who's That Lady?". Cincinnati CityBeat . Archived from the original on June 24, 2001. Retrieved December 30, 2020.