Student Diversity Initiatives
About SDI
Staff
Vanessa Valenzuela, Assistant Dean, International Advisement and Student Diversity Initiatives
Genesis Siverio, Diversity Initiatives Assistant
Diversity Dialogues
Diversity Dialogues are a series of discussions held monthly on varying topics related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Each month focuses on a different theme ranging from discussions on race/ethnicity, sex/gender/sexuality, religion/faith/spirituality, socioeconomic status, and much more. The goal is to provide a safe space for different viewpoints to be heard while discussing complicated and difficult topics. Each Diversity Dialogue counts as a Foundations Program under the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging credit. The Diversity Dialogues for the academic year 2024-25 are:
- September 11: Real Self Care & Discovering Authenticity
- October 9: Classical Cannons
- November 20: IEW: Communicating Across Cultures & Generations
- December 11: More than Just Christmas
- February 12: Black Women & Intersectional Feminism
- March 19: OASDS Program: Disability in the Arts
- April 16: Arab American Artistry
Gender Pronouns
What is a gender pronoun?
A gender pronoun is used to refer to people in sentences and conversations. There are many different gender pronouns that can be used. Commonly, the binaries of she/her/hers and he/him/his have been used. Using the nonbinary they/them/theirs as a singular pronoun is recognized by many publications, including the Chicago Manual of Style (whose style Juilliard uses), Washington Post, Merriam-Webster, and Associated Press.
Why is this important?
Gender should not be assumed based on outward appearance. When someone is referred to by the incorrect pronoun, it can make them feel disrespected and invalidated. The New York City Commission on Human Rights recognizes 31 different gender identities or gender expressions, and Facebook allows users to put in custom gender identity as it is increasingly important to be aware of how we address each other. At Juilliard, our mission is to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all identities. Should you wish to discuss this further, you can look for the Safe Zone ally placards around campus (full list above).
What are some examples of gender pronouns?
Gender pronouns can vary; below are just a few examples. Please note that this is a small sample of pronouns and that you should use whatever pronouns a particular individual requests.
| Subjective | Objective | Possessive Adjective | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| She | Her | Hers | Taylor ate her food because she was hungry. |
| He | Him | His | Taylor ate his food because he was hungry. |
| They | Them | Theirs | Taylor ate their food because they were hungry. |
| Xe | Xem | Xyrs | Taylor at xyr food because xe was hungry. |
| Ze | Zir | Zirs | Taylor ate zir food because ze was hungry. |
| Ze | Hir | Hirs | Taylor ate hir food because ze was hungry. |
| Name | Name | Name’s | Taylor ate Taylor’s food because Taylor was hungry. |
How do you ask someone about their pronouns?
The easiest thing to do is start with your own pronouns. You can say, “Hello, my name is Taylor and I use they/them/theirs pronouns.” By starting the conversation this way, it allows the other person to provide their own pronouns in a nonthreatening way.
Alternatively, you can ask: "What are your gender pronouns?" or "Which pronouns do you use?" or "Can you remind me which pronouns you use for yourself?" Asking people about their gender pronouns has become commonplace in LGBTQIA+ and safe-space communities. Outside of those communities, asking someone about their gender pronouns can be greatly appreciated instead of making assumptions about someone's gender pronouns.
When in doubt, it is best to use neutral pronouns like they/them/theirs.
What if I make a mistake and use the wrong pronoun?
It’s OK! People make mistakes all the time. The best thing to do if you accidentally misgender someone (call them by the wrong gender pronoun) is to quickly apologize and continue the conversation with the correct pronouns. It can be as simple as this: “Taylor is joining us for lunch. She—sorry, they—said that they wanted tacos.”
If you’ve misgendered someone, it’s best to not make a big deal about it because that can make the person feel even more awkward.
If you hear someone using the incorrect pronoun, you can be a good ally by gently saying something like, “Taylor uses the pronouns they/their/theirs” and then continuing the conversation.
How do you address someone when you aren’t sure which gender pronoun to use?
When addressing emails or letters, if you are unsure of how to address a person in a formal way, one option might be to use Mx. (pronounced mix) instead of Ms./Mrs./Mr. However, if the person you are addressing has a doctorate, you should always address them with Dr. instead of any of the Ms./Mrs./Mr./Mx variations.
You may also wish to include your own pronouns in your correspondences. For example, at the bottom of your email signature, you can put a short statement such as: My gender pronouns: they/them/theirs or My gender pronouns: she/her/hers.
What about safety?
Sometimes an individual may not want to disclose their gender identity due to concerns about safety. It is important to respect their wishes and allow the individual to not disclose. Additionally, it is not appropriate to only ask for pronouns for individuals who you suspect may be trans* or gender noncomforming. This could uncomfortably single them out. The best practice is to ask everyone in the group for their gender pronouns, but only in a safe setting.
Chosen Name
As Juilliard continues to create the most affirming and inclusive campus we can, we are clarifying the chosen name policy. This policy will allow any Juilliard community member to choose a first name other than their legal name, and have that name used in as many ways and places as possible. You can read the entire policy on the Policies and Consumer Information page. To learn more about the procedures to change a chosen name in the Juilliard system, you can read the Chosen Name Policy FAQs or stop by the Registrar’s Office (students) or Human Resources (faculty and staff).