Re: Content Usable pronouns and Tal

Hi Rain,

Thanks for this research!! It is quite interesting.

As an additional "option" (consideration?), if we *DO* continue to include
the statement that Tal prefers to be identified as they/them/their, what if
we include this for *all* of the personas: make it a standard bit of
information about all of the personas, not just the one. I think that would
help a little in reducing my impression of 'tokenism' ("Look, we've got one
of those too!" - yes, that comes off as insensitive, and I do not mean it
that way - it's simply an observation that it could be interpreted that
way).

I also continue to be concerned about cultural sensitivity - not every
culture is as accepting of gender diversity as our increasingly secular
Western society, and I believe we need to be mindful of that as well.

Thoughts?

JF

(Related: editorial note - the text currently reads "Tal like to be
referred to (pronouns) as they/them/theirs" - should it not be "Tal like*s*
to be referred to (pronouns) as Tal/they/them/theirs" - i.e.the addition of
the "s" on "like")

On Thu, Mar 25, 2021 at 12:26 PM Rain Michaels <rainb@google.com> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> I'm hoping that my comments below don't further complicate or confuse this
> conversation, but after reading the conversation that followed, I connected
> directly with a researcher who has done a lot of work around the
> intersection of cognitive and gender diversity in order to better
> understand how important it is that we include a non-binary persona.
>
> This researcher confirmed the following:
>
>    - Choosing to use one's name instead of a pronoun (as Rachael proposed
>    in option 3) is an approach that will be recognized and appreciated by the
>    community we are trying to include, as it is both a personal preference,
>    and also a self-protective preference that offers more subtly.
>    - There is a higher than average prevalence of individuals with
>    cognitive difference also identifying as non-binary; these individuals are
>    left out in so many ways that it would be a small and positive gesture for
>    us to include them in the Tal persona.
>    - A good resource to help think of the importance of this single move: Gender
>    Dysphoria and People with Intellectual Disability
>    <http://www.intellectualdisability.info/mental-health/articles/gender-dysphoria-and-people-with-intellectual-disability>
>
>
> Additionally, given the link to the emerging style recommendation from
> EOWG that Laura referenced
> <https://www.w3.org/WAI/EO/wiki/Style#Personas_and_use_cases>, and given
> that we do have many personas, including Tal as a non-binary individual who
> prefers to be referred to by name feels like an important thing for us to
> do.
>
> Rain
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 24, 2021 at 11:24 AM Laura Carlson <
> laura.lee.carlson@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi Rachael and all,
>>
>> I prefer option 1 and 3 combined.
>>
>> If specifying pronouns in our personas is going to help to promote
>> diversity, equality, and inclusiveness, we should be doing it.
>>
>> It seems like the Education & Outreach Working Group (EOWG) may be
>> working on persona pronouns for the WAI Style Guide:
>> https://www.w3.org/WAI/EO/wiki/Style#Personas_and_use_cases
>>
>> Perhaps Shawn may have some guidance for us?
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>> Kind Regards,
>> Laura
>>
>> On 3/23/21, Rachael Bradley Montgomery <rachael@accessiblecommunity.org>
>> wrote:
>> > Hello,
>> >
>> > Thank you for the thoughtful discussion at today's meeting about the
>> plural
>> > pronoun used in Tal. A resource you can read if this is a new area for
>> you
>> > is https://www.mypronouns.org/
>> >
>> > We discussed the following options:
>> >
>> >    1. no change
>> >    2. add it in 1 or 2 places in the main persona
>> >    3. Tal like to be referred to (pronouns) as Tal/they/them/theirs
>> >    4. change the persona to remove gender diversity
>> >    5. use the pronouns as frequently as would be used naturally
>> >
>> > COGA had voted against 5 because of readability and translatability
>> > challenges and compromised with using the minimal pronouns in option
>> 1.  I
>> > have created a google document with all of the options at
>> >
>> https://docs.google.com/document/d/18FabK-X1AgOMPqG2YydOrcyl1d89rHxbcfqso2du1vo/edit#
>> >
>> > Please take a look and weigh in with your thoughts on how to proceed.
>> >
>> > Best regards,
>> >
>> > Rachael
>> > --
>> > Rachael Montgomery, PhD
>> > Director, Accessible Community
>> > rachael@accessiblecommunity.org
>> >
>> > "I will paint this day with laughter;
>> > I will frame this night in song."
>> >  - Og Mandino
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
>> Laura L. Carlson
>>
>>