Chromie Visits the Pronoun Dressing Room

Chromie The Chromebook is having gender  identity issues. This could not possibly have anything to do with spending what passes for summer vacation around RantWoman, a weekend of religious-themed earnestness being invited at every new round of introductions to offer name, where from, and pronoun preferences.

RantWoman actually goes to many meetings in Seattle where invitation to offer pronoun preferences is part of the introductions order. RantWoman has never once gone to such a meeting and not encountered someone who has never before thought about the issue. So RantWoman should not be surprised that Chromie also shows signs of curiosity about the matter.

Do Chromie's gender identity issues have anything to do with RantWoman assigning Chromie a pretty gender-ambiguous voice, lower and faster than the Chromie's factory default? RantWoman and Chromie have been interrogating the question, why does Chromie need a gender in the first place? And even if Chromie tries one on and decides to like it, does Chromie also get to grab the title "gender nonconforming" no matter what gender is chosen?

Part of Chromie's gender identity issues are basically existential. Chromie refuses to be considered merely "it." RantWoman has herd a gender-neutral suggestion, "per,." RantWoman thinks this crosses the line of electronic personification a little too far, especially since both Chromie and RantWoman are all about realistic expectations. Chromie does not have to be some near-human android to be appreciated and RantWoman is willing to indulge in the thought that Chromie as a technological partner is entitled to some kind of recognition a notch or two about "it."

RantWoman thinks she has read a sci-fi book or two where there are multiple genders and / or approaches to pronouns, but Chromie is going to have to go look that up independently. In the meantime, RantWoman spends time among people whose first names offer limited clues as to gender. RantWoman also spends time among speakers of many languages other than English. What English language learners do with pronouns and gender concepts in English tends to mirror what happens in these people's first languages. What to do with the problem varies by situation but is no help to Chromie.

Ahh, but RantWoman has tutors in the world of how to name gender identity. Go visit the pronoun dressing room, a website that lists all kinds of pronoun options and it's relative site Ask a Non-binary, a cool resource for languages other than English.

The Pronoun Dressing Room  Find The Ask a Nonbinary Site there too.

RantWoman had NO idea there were so many options in English. Honestly, RantWoman would find it easier to try on the pronoun combos if they also came with sample texts where the different pronoun flavor choices where integrated into the kind of world where the designated category of pronouns were daily fare.

Alas, that is not the reality of today. Maybe Chromie just gets to be non-binary but RantWoman needs to leave Chromie's gender identity hanging because, among other thoghts, the world is entitled to more rambles about device accessibility! Stay tuned.