ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Gender neutrality in English

Okay, so you know how sometimes people use "he" or "she" to talk about someone, right? But what if that person doesn't want to be called "he" or "she" because they don't feel like a boy or a girl? That's where gender neutrality comes in.

Gender neutrality means using words and phrases that don't just describe boys or girls. Instead, they can describe anyone, no matter what they look like or how they feel about their gender.

For example, instead of saying "he or she" or "him or her" you can say "they" or "them." This way, you're not assuming the person you're talking about is a boy or a girl.

Also, instead of saying "Mr." or "Mrs." to address someone, you can use "Mx." which doesn't say if the person is a man or a woman.

Gender neutrality is important because everyone should be treated with respect, no matter what they look like or how they feel about themselves. So, we try to use words that make everyone feel included and appreciated.