Potato Head goes gender neutral. What is gender neutrality and how can I be more inclusive?

Kaanita Iyer, USA TODAY
·3 min read

Capitol Hill rejuvenated the movement for gender inclusivity this week with its push for equality – as did popular toy Potato Head.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed an expansion of the Equality Act to outlaw discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

While the future of the bill in the Senate is uncertain, it is Congress' latest measure to highlight inclusivity. Earlier this year, the House changed its rules to make all pronouns and familial relationships mentioned gender neutral.

Also this week, Hasbro, the company that makes Potato Head, made the brand gender neutral on Thursday by dropping the "Mr." from its name. While more symbolic than substantive, it speaks to the growing push for inclusivity across U.S. institutions.

These changes come as a new poll revealed that more American adults than before are identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

According to Gallup's estimate, 5.6% adults identify as LGBT, up from 4.5% in 2017. This includes 1 in 6 Generation Z adults, or those born after 1997, which shows that the country continues to become more diverse.

"What we're seeing is a combination of increased awareness and mobilization by our communities all over the country," said Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign, a LGBTQ advocacy and lobbying group. "People understand that equality is a winning issue."

Here's what you should know about gender neutrality, using gender-neutral language and how to find and provide support.

What is gender neutrality?

Gender neutrality is using language — both colloquially and while making policies — that does not assign pronouns or roles based on gender or sex.

This practice recognizes that gender identity is a spectrum and while many people identify as male or female, others don't fit into these categories. They might describe themselves as a bit of both, one more than the other or neither.

What is gender-neutral language?

Those who don't identify as male or female, may choose to identify most commonly as nonbinary. Other popular identifications include agender, genderfluid, genderqueer.

They also traditionally reject "he" and "she" pronouns for "they" or "ze" but can choose more than one.

Using gender neutral terms and the pronouns that people choose for themselves is important because it "respects self-identification," David said.

"And how people self-identify is important to how they live in the world," he continued.

To normalize sharing pronouns, many cisgender people — those who have a gender identity that matches their birth sex — are including theirs in their introductions, social media bios, email signatures and beyond.

"The most important thing for allies to do is become advocates for change," David said. "And we can only effectuate change with the support of allies.

"If we live in a more inclusive society, in a culture where we understand and respect the same values, then everyone should be invested in ensuring that those values are upheld," he said.

What are some resources available to support nonbinary people and educate allies?

  • The Trevor Project has a 24/7 support line for trans and nonbinary youth that can be reached by calling 1-866-488-7386; texting START to 678-678 or via chat here. It also has a guide for allies that is available to download here at no cost.

  • The Human Rights Campaign has a checklist of things allies can do "from beginner steps to some that are more involved."

  • GLAAD, another LGBTQ advocacy group, debunked common misconceptions about nonbinary people. You can find it here.

  • The National Alliance on Mental Illness has a fact sheet on the risk factors of LGBTQ mental health, which includes how those in the community can find support, such as the right mental health professional.

  • While many LGBTQ organizations might not explicitly list resources for nonbinary people, their general resources and the work they do might still be helpful for you if you are seeking support.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mr. Potato Head drops goes gender neutral. What is gender neutrality?