CNN faced criticism over the weekend for publishing an article that delved into the use of "neopronouns," a type of gender-neutral or nonbinary pronoun that allows individuals to describe themselves using genderless terms such as "leaf," "sun," and "star."
The article, titled "A guide to neopronouns, from ae to ze," provided an overview of alternative grammar that eliminates gender markers and quoted experts who encouraged readers to use and respect neopronouns.
The CNN article acknowledged that while many common English words have gender markers, not all of them are binary. It highlighted the use of the singular "they," which is preferred by some nonbinary and trans individuals who do not identify with gendered pronouns.
The article also introduced neopronouns as distinct from traditional pronouns like "she," "he," and "they." Neopronouns, such as "xe" and "em," have been used for centuries by writers as a solution for referring to subjects without assuming gender. Today, they are commonly used by nonbinary and trans individuals.
According to the article, neopronouns are most often employed by nonbinary, transgender, and gender-nonconforming individuals because they offer more freedom of identity. The piece listed several common neopronouns, including "xe/xyr" and "ze/zir," and provided examples of how to use them in a sentence.
Dennis Baron, an emeritus professor of English and Linguistics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, explained that some individuals who use neopronouns prefer to use nouns that are completely original to them.
These are known as "nounself neopronouns" and can include nature-inspired or genderless descriptors. For example, someone who uses the nounself pronoun "leaf" might say, "I hope leaf knows how proud we are that leaf is getting to know leafself better!"
The article also mentioned that nounself neopronouns gained popularity on the social platform Tumblr around 2012 and 2013, particularly among members of fandoms who derived their pronouns from the properties they enjoyed.
Critics of nounself and neopronouns argue that they are silly and make it harder for transgender and nonbinary individuals to be taken seriously. However, Baron emphasized that all words, including neopronouns, were invented at some point. He urged readers to honor a person's identity by using inclusive language, including pronouns and other self-identifiers, as a way to show respect and facilitate discourse.
Despite the article's attempt to provide information and promote inclusivity, it faced significant backlash on social media. Critics ridiculed the piece as delusional and reflective of the mental crisis in America today. Some questioned CNN's journalistic integrity, suggesting that the network had strayed from its original purpose of reporting news.
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