What are pronoun badges and why are universities handing them out to students at freshers week?

UNIVERSITIES across the UK will be distributing pronoun badges in this upcoming freshers' week.

But what exactly are they? We have all the information for you...

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What are pronoun badges?

Pronoun badges are really as simple as they sound: they're badges with different pronouns on.

However their purpose is to display to everyone what those who are wearing them define themselves as.

They're also so that people know what to refer to the wearer as.

They will usually have either 'she/her', 'they/them' or 'he/him' on them.

Users of websites such as Etsy have been selling their own versions of the badges

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Why are universities handing them out?

Edinburgh University have been making waves recently since they announced that they would be handing out pronoun badges during their Welcome Week.

The reason behind them doing this comes from a place of inclusivity and they're wanting to make trans and non-binary students feel comfortable.

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They believe this will help avoid confusion and avoid awkward and uncomfortable situations for those who have had their pronouns assumed.

However not everyone has reacted positively to the forward-thinking move.

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What's the reaction been like?

Reactions towards the badges have on the whole been quite mixed, with many calling the badges unnecessary.

Edinburgh fresher Rowan MacKenzie spoke to The Independent and said that the badges, in his opinion, "creative division instead of creating unity.

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"Everyone keeps asking for equality and to be treated the same – which is what I believe in – but these badges divide everyone into a box creating the exact opposite."

And others took to Twitter saying: "I am refusing to wear a pronoun badge that the student union is handing out to students which allows others to see what gender we identify with because I refuse to be labelled and refuse to see other people as a label.

"How about just accepting everyone equally for who they are."