From Thou to They: Gender Nonconformity Pronouns in Literary History

Did you know that singular you is a more recent addition to the English language than singular they? We can trace back singular they to the 1300s but singular you only replaced thou and thee in the 17th century. This is only one of many surprising facts that literary history can teach us about gender-inclusive pronouns. Where current debates about language policies might have us believe that pronouns that challenge the gender binary are strictly a 21st-century issue, celebrated authors from Margaret Cavendish to Aphra Behn to Virginia Woolf show us that gender non-conformity pronouns have not just been in use for centuries, but are also beautiful enough to have made it into some of the most celebrated novels and poems in English. In addition to learning about the fabulous history of gender non-conformity pronouns in Anglophone literature, we will also look at contemporary writing, current debates and social expectations surrounding pronouns and gender. The main take-away: Pronouns aren't just practical, they hold immense potential for innovation, creativity and beauty.

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