Here’s Why You Should Ask Your Clients For Their Pronouns

Getting educated on gender pronouns is an essential step in supporting your LGBTQIA+ clientele.

One of the most important parts of working in or owning a spa or clinic is to help your clients feel comfortable and safe. Whether you’re treating intimate areas or simply helping new clients get accustomed to different treatments, how you interact with them plays a key role. This is even more important when it comes to supporting your LGBTQIA+ clients.

Using the correct personal gender pronouns (the pronouns that a person identifies such as she/her/hers, or they/them/theirs) is essential for queer, non-binary, transgender and gender non-conforming clients. These pronouns are used to describe the gender your client identifies as, not necessarily the biological sex they were born as. While a cisgender or transgender person might use she/her and he/him, others might prefer gender neutral pronouns such as they/them/their or ze/hir/hirs (pronounced zee/here/heres) or she/they and he/they if they’re gender fluid.

Enter: Timely’s new pronoun selector, which allows clients to self-identify their personal pronouns when they make an online booking so there is no misgendering that could make them feel anxious or unsafe. Here, Timely’s Head of Brand Tamara Reid shares the importance of pronouns for industry professionals.

What is the importance of pronouns?

TR: At some point or another we’ve all felt disrespected when someone has forgotten or mistaken our name — this is no different when it comes to pronouns. Pronouns are as much a part of someone’s identity as their name, so getting them right means more to people than you might think — it’s a way to help someone feel respected and seen. It’s also important to note that someone’s appearance or how they dress might not necessarily pair with their pronouns, so if you’re not sure, ask. 

What role do beauty and aesthetics industry professionals play? 

TR: Professionals play a huge role in affirming someone’s gender identity, from surgical procedures to non-invasive and general wellness treatments, and have the power to help someone express how they feel on the inside to the rest of the world. The beauty industry is often the first port of call for someone looking to experiment with their identity. 

How can beauty professionals discuss pronouns with clients?

TR: It sounds simple, but asking someone what their pronouns are when you say hello puts everyone at ease. Timely’s new pronoun selector for online bookings is a seemingly simple feature that creates a comfortable, welcoming client experience for anyone who walks through your salon doors. This feature allows you to know someone’s pronouns before their appointment, which takes away any awkwardness.

Doing your own research is essential so you have a deeper understanding of the importance of pronouns to help create a safe, inviting space. It only takes a few minutes of reading or listening to give your client an invaluable experience where they feel comfortable and seen.

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