Top University Scraps Mr, Ms And Mrs Titles

South Africa’s prestigious Wits University has dropped gender prefixes – Mr, Ms and Mrs – from all university communication to create a more inclusive environment for students who are transgender‚ non-binary or gender non-conforming.

“Now they can specify the title they would like to have,” says a spokesperson at the university’s Transformation and Employment Equity Office, even if it’s not linked to legal documentation. Explaining the decision, she added:

Addressing somebody by a particular name or title are intrinsically affirming for people who are transgender or gender non-conforming or gender queer. It makes you part of the university culture if you feel you are visibly appreciated and respected.”

The gender-neutral title “Mx”, which is widely recognised in many countries across the world, is increasingly popular, the university said in a statement.

South Africa’s Gender and Quality Commission has called the change at Wits University “very progressive”, according to news site Eyewitness News, adding they “hope this can be taken forward” nationwide.

Source: BBC