Gen Z More Familiar with Non-Binary Pronouns

Gen Z, the youngest generation, is the most familiar with non-binary pronouns, according to a 2018 study conducted by Pew Research Center. 35 percent of Gen Z adults and 25 percent of Millennials know someone who prefers to use gender neutral pronouns. The older generations are less familiar, according to the study.

“They” was named the world of the year by the Merriam-Webster dictionary. “English famously lacks a gender-neutral singular pronoun to correspond neatly with singular pronouns like everyone or someone, and as a consequence, ‘they’ has been used for this purpose for over 600 years,” Merriam-Webster announced. Searches for “they” increased more than 300 percent in 2019 because of it more commonly being used as a singular, non-binary pronoun.

Three new words were added to the dictionary, as noted by LGBTQ Nation. The words, related to transgender issues, were top surgery bottom surgery and gender noncomforming. “Themselves” was also added as a word that can be used as a gender-neutral pronouns, along with “they” being used as a personal pronoun for a person of non-binary gender identity.