Personhood and Pronoun Choice: New Zealand English Speakers’ Views on The Pronoun “it” to Refer to Young Children

Words matter—even small words like pronouns. This study explores an under-researched aspect of English pronoun usage: The deployment of the neuter pronoun “it” to refer to young children. Based on an online survey of Aotearoa/New Zealand English speakers, it shows that speakers’ views on the appropriateness of this usage differed. For some, it was perceived as innocuous and conventional; many others viewed it as diminishing children's status as persons, as humans. This paper suggests that influential publishers, such as the mainstream media and academic presses, reconsider their use of the pronoun “it” in reference to children.