While the scientific consensus is that nonhuman animals are conscious beings—they are someone, not something—they are often described as though they might be nothing more than a couch when they are referred to as it, that or which. Not using personal pronouns for individual nonhuman animals is especially problematic in mainstream media, which not only has a huge impact on our perception, but a responsibility to give a voice to the voiceless.
Our lives are intertwined with nonhuman animals in so many ways, and
they're part of some of the most important stories shaping our world
right now. Unfortunately, they continue to be described as though
they are inanimate objects who aren't also stakeholders, and that
desperately needs to change. You can help by supporting our call to
end the use of objectifying language in the media, and pledging to
make the change yourself.
While the scientific consensus is that nonhuman animals are
conscious beings — they are someone, not something — they are often
described as though they might be nothing more than a couch when
they're referred to as it, that or which.
Not using personal pronouns for individual nonhuman animals is
especially problematic in mainstream media, which not only has a
huge impact on our perception, but a responsibility to give a voice
to the voiceless.
In an effort to change this and carry on the legacy of our founder
Dr. Elliot Katz, who was passionate about shifting our language, we
recently partnered with Animals & Media to call for an update to the
Associated Press Stylebook, and we were joined by more than 80
leaders in animal advocacy and conservation who signed onto our open
letter, including Dr. Jane Goodall.
This widely used and respected stylebook isn't just a guide for
journalists, but for writers in other industries as well, and an
update would go a long way towards promoting accurate communication
and ending the use of objectifying language for nonhuman animals.
The AP Stylebook currently recommends not using personal pronouns
unless an animal has a name, or their gender is known, but this is
too limiting and inaccurate. Instead, the guidance should be to use
she/her/hers or he/him/his when their sex is known, regardless of
species, or the gender-neutral they, he/she or his/hers when their
sex is unknown. And we should also say who, instead of that.
When an animal's sex has been established, use the appropriate
personal pronoun. Elliott gets excited when he goes to the dog park.
The mother cat, who heard her kittens cry, ran to her basket. The
bull tosses his horns. If the sex of the animal is unknown, follow
the rules as used with humans, so as not to refer to anyone as “it.”
Try to rewrite the sentence with a plural subject so that the
gender-neutral “they” would work. If the subject must remain
singular, either choose “they” or use “his or her” or “he or she”
rather than the inanimate “it.” Regardless of sex, use “who” rather
than “that” or “which” when describing any animal individual. The
dog, who seemed to be lost, barked when he or she saw us
approaching. A chick is often hesitant to leave the nest for their
first flight.
Our words matter; they carry weight and we can use them to normalize
inclusive language for all sentient beings to end their
objectification and misrepresentation.
ACTIONS
You can show your support for this campaign and a world where we see
nonhuman animals as fellow sentient beings in a number of ways:
1. Write a Letter to the Editor
Send your local news or favorite outlet a letter about why we need
to update our language for nonhuman animals. They each typically
have their own requirements and word counts, but you can use the
following for reference and personalize it to mention your
involvement with animals and expertise:
As someone who is concerned with the increasingly troubling state of
the world, and our mistreatment of nonhuman animals, I hope to see
an update to the way we write and speak about them to reflect the
fact that they too are sentient beings.
It's unfortunate that individual nonhuman animals continue to be
referred to as “it” — like they are inanimate objects who are here
for us to do with as we please. Instead, simply applying a personal
pronoun (they, he, or she) in stories that are about them, or that
affect them, would go a long way towards changing people's
perception of them and creating a world where we can respect and
protect them from harm — whether they're wild/free or domesticated.
In an age grappling with industrialized animal cruelty, a sixth mass
extinction, a climate crisis, and a pandemic, it's more important
than ever to use non-objectifying language; we're all in this
together and their lives matter to them as much as ours do to us.
You can also ask that the word “owner” be replaced with “guardian”
to reflect the fact that the nonhuman animals we share our lives
with are so much more than property.
If your letter gets published, congratulations! Please email the
link to [email protected] so that we can share it.
2. Urge Your Favorite Companies and Organizations to Make
This Change
Most businesses and organizations default to a particular style
guide, like the AP Stylebook, or have their own style guides for
producing content you see on the web and in print — and they can
make this switch on their own. Reach out and encourage them to make
this change, and to check Animals & Media for specific
recommendations for journalism, marketing, public relations and
advertising.
3. Share Good Examples
When you see a great article about nonhuman animals where personal
pronouns are used, share it on social media and thank the writer!
You can also add #WhoNotThat #ItMatters #AnimalPronouns and
#AnimalsAndMedia.