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by _dark_matter_ 1989 days ago
I don't understand this point if view. I see it like stating your name - it lets people know what to call you. It doesn't have any relationship to what your genitalia are.
1 comments

In addition to stating the name as the identity, it would be best to state gender, pronoun, and why not also race and religion? They are all part of identity.

Better not. The professional signature is not mean to show your private identity. It is supposed to identify your professional identity, which should not include race or gender. Your private e-mail signature can include unicorns, your work signature should be kept professional and that means excluding private data.

In some job functions, you do not even state the name - you are simply a representative of the company. First line support is often like that. The "Jane" you think you meet in a support chat may be Asmee or Ananya in real life.

> your work signature should be kept professional and that means excluding private data.

Unless you live in complete isolation your gender is not private. As soon as someone sees your appearance or hears your voice they will subconsciously associate you with a gender. And if that association is often incorrect then what's wrong with avoiding awkward situations?

We don't mention ethnicity or religion because they're not relevant for communication with business partners. Genders are, due to how our language works.

I wouldn't enforce mentioning pronouns as in the majority of cases it's simply unnecessary, but if someone has a problem with that detail in an email signature that tells a lot more about them, enough for me to reconsider working with them. Because no, it's not an important thing for me, but if someone thinks themselves as too professional for such little things they're probably not a pleasant person.

you don't use race or religion when referring to someone in polite conversation. i've never heard someone say "well that's not what black islamic he thinks" because it's unnatural. a pronoun serves as a shorthand or generalization to inform the listener about whom you're speaking of, in a way that is general but specific enough to choose an actor out of the context.