ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Gender-neutral pronoun

Okay, let me explain this in a very simple way that even a five-year-old can understand.

When we talk about people, we usually refer to them using pronouns like "he" or "she." For example, if we talk about a boy, we say "he likes playing with toys," and if we talk about a girl, we say "she likes playing with dolls." But what if we don't know if the person we are talking about is a boy or a girl? Or what if they don't identify as either one?

Well, that's where gender-neutral pronouns come in. These are pronouns that we use to refer to people without indicating their gender. Instead of "he" or "she," we can use pronouns like "they," "them," or "ze" (pronounced like "zee") to refer to a person.

Some people prefer to use these gender-neutral pronouns because they feel that "he" and "she" don't accurately reflect who they are or how they want to be identified. It's important to respect people's wishes and use the pronouns they prefer, whether that's a gender-neutral one or a more traditional one.