The third gender or the gender neutrals are finally getting their long-withheld recognition. Until now honorifics were only confined to two sexes, Mr for men, and Ms and Mrs for women. But now Oxford English Dictionary plans to include a specific honorific for the third gender – Mx. This could be used either by transgender people or anybody who does not identify with either gender.
Over the past two years the title has been quietly added to official forms and databases in Britain, before being considered for inclusion in the next edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. (OED).
In Britain, government departments, councils, high street banks, some universities, Royal Mail and driving licences now accept Mx, the Sunday Times reported.
Jonathan Dent, assistant editor on the OED, said it was the first addition to the accepted stable of honorifics in recent history and demonstrated how the English language is evolving to accommodate an ever-changing society. “This is an example of how the English language adapts to people’s needs, with people using language in ways that suit them rather than letting language dictate identity to them,” Dent said.
Last year, Oxford University changed its systems to allow staff and students to use Mx as it is “now the most commonly used and recognized gender-neutral title”.
It’s an admirable and much-welcome move for transgenders for sure. While transgenders still struggle with social acceptance, it is simply lovely that the English dictionary now gives them a defined place in the new world order.
We hope the Indian government adopts it too, considering that the Rajya Sabha recently okayed a landmark transgender rights bill. Local transgender communities in India, although welcoming the new honorific are not very laudatory about it. They doubt if it would improve their lives and help them in getting integrated into mainstream society.
Only time will tell. But this is still a good beginning!
Image Courtesy: Reuters
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