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The multiple meanings of the gender-inclusive pronoun hen : Predicting attitudes and use

Renström, Emma A. LU ; Lindqvist, Anna LU and Sendén, Marie Gustafsson (2022) In European Journal of Social Psychology 52(1). p.71-90
Abstract

The Swedish gender-inclusive pronoun hen can be used generically (referring to anyone), or specifically (referring to non-binary gender identities). Three studies tested evaluations and use of hen, and individual-level predictors. In Study 1 (N = 2145), specific hen was slightly favoured over generic hen. In Study 2 (N = 297), hen was more negatively evaluated than binary pronouns, and generic hen was more positively evaluated than specific hen. In Study 3 (N = 450), hen was less frequently used compared to binary pronouns overall but preferred in generic contexts. Traditionalism mainly predicted attitudes towards generic hen and beliefs about gender, as binary mainly predicted attitudes towards specific hen, although the pattern varied... (More)

The Swedish gender-inclusive pronoun hen can be used generically (referring to anyone), or specifically (referring to non-binary gender identities). Three studies tested evaluations and use of hen, and individual-level predictors. In Study 1 (N = 2145), specific hen was slightly favoured over generic hen. In Study 2 (N = 297), hen was more negatively evaluated than binary pronouns, and generic hen was more positively evaluated than specific hen. In Study 3 (N = 450), hen was less frequently used compared to binary pronouns overall but preferred in generic contexts. Traditionalism mainly predicted attitudes towards generic hen and beliefs about gender, as binary mainly predicted attitudes towards specific hen, although the pattern varied across studies. Because hen was preferred in generic contexts, but not in specific ones, this work has implications for understanding the non-acceptance of non-binary gender identities since the traditional binary notion of gender still is strong.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
European Journal of Social Psychology
volume
52
issue
1
pages
71 - 90
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85124074191
ISSN
0046-2772
DOI
10.1002/ejsp.2816
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c3040c97-0f75-420b-80c1-1d7002d8ea2a
date added to LUP
2022-04-05 15:33:35
date last changed
2022-06-29 16:24:20
@article{c3040c97-0f75-420b-80c1-1d7002d8ea2a,
  abstract     = {{<p>The Swedish gender-inclusive pronoun hen can be used generically (referring to anyone), or specifically (referring to non-binary gender identities). Three studies tested evaluations and use of hen, and individual-level predictors. In Study 1 (N = 2145), specific hen was slightly favoured over generic hen. In Study 2 (N = 297), hen was more negatively evaluated than binary pronouns, and generic hen was more positively evaluated than specific hen. In Study 3 (N = 450), hen was less frequently used compared to binary pronouns overall but preferred in generic contexts. Traditionalism mainly predicted attitudes towards generic hen and beliefs about gender, as binary mainly predicted attitudes towards specific hen, although the pattern varied across studies. Because hen was preferred in generic contexts, but not in specific ones, this work has implications for understanding the non-acceptance of non-binary gender identities since the traditional binary notion of gender still is strong.</p>}},
  author       = {{Renström, Emma A. and Lindqvist, Anna and Sendén, Marie Gustafsson}},
  issn         = {{0046-2772}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{71--90}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Social Psychology}},
  title        = {{The multiple meanings of the gender-inclusive pronoun hen : Predicting attitudes and use}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2816}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/ejsp.2816}},
  volume       = {{52}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}