Should we use Mx as an alternative to Ms and Mr?
by Maggie Smith
Mx has been introduced as an alternative to Ms/Mrs and Mr for non-binary individuals, people who are gender fluid, and people who would just rather a gender neutral term. 
In the Radical Copy Editor the author wrote about the origin of the word Mx, talking about how this word was first introduced to the world about 50 years ago in the 1977 U.S. magazine. There was a short story called Single Parent by Pat Kite in it, and in that story the author said “…maybe both sexes should be called Mx. That would solve the gender problem entirely.” So originally this author is introducing this term as a word that can just be used completely in place of any gendered titles. This title did not flourish as an “all-purpose” title, but individuals who did not want to be identified as one/a gender started using this term and it really picked up in that sense. It is torn on whether Mx can be used for anyone or just for non-binary people, but it is most widely used for people who are non-binary, or gender fluid.
Some people are not a fan of this surname though, specifically in the classroom when teachers/substitutes are asked to be referred to as Mx. rather than Mr/Mrs. Some parents will argue that this surname should not be used, saying that discussion of gender identity shouldn’t be brought into the classroom, especially in the younger grades. More conservative parents who believe that they are only 2 genders, also may say that this is teaching their young children something that is “incorrect” in their opinion. But, the reality of the situation is that kids don’t really care. In the Kirkwood School District, they allowed for their teachers to be addressed as Mx and when one of the students was asked about their feelings about this, his parents said the following, “We talked to our son, he is 9 years old, and he shrugs it off too. It’s a non-issue. This might be a case where we can learn quite a bit from our kids”. The parents are making this a much bigger issue than it needs to be. These kids don’t typically think twice about the term, they just use it. If the surname Mx makes a person feel more comfortable and included, why shouldn’t we use it? It doesn’t distract from children’s education and it makes the teacher feel more validated and confident in their own space.
So should we use Mx? Yes, but generally it is recommended to only use it when the person themselves refers to themself as Mx, not just going around and calling people Mx without them first saying that they are referred to as Mx. I spoke to college students Megan and Ilari about this controversy, asking what their thoughts were on the surname Mx and this is what they responded. Megan said, “I would call someone whatever they want as long as they feel respected. I don’t really care, I will do whatever a person wants.” Ilari had a similar response, saying, “I think it is the polite thing to do, because you don’t want to refer to a person in an unprofessional manner by just saying their first name. So, if they want to be referred to as Mx, I think that is totally acceptable.” Both Megan and Ilari would agree that Mx should be used when a person requests it.
In conclusion, I believe that we should use the surname Mx if a person says that it is what they want to be called. It takes very little effort on our part and it can make a significant impact in a person’s life. When we speak it is important that we are thoughtful and considerate with our words and using the surname Mx is a very easy way to be inclusive and kind in our language.
Works Cited
Kapitan, Alex. “What’s in a Word: Mx. – Radical Copyeditor.” Radical Copyeditor, 30 July 2020, https://radicalcopyeditor.com/2020/07/30/mx/. Accessed 8 November 2023.
Kesslen, Ben. “Ms., Mr. or Mx.? Nonbinary teachers embrace gender-neutral honorific.” NBC News, 20 January 2019, https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/ms-mr-or-mx-nonbinary-teachers-embrace-gender-neutral-honorific-n960456. Accessed 8 November 2023.
Kinsaul, Russell. “Parents uncomfortable with gender neutral title used by new teacher.” The Gayly, 23 August 2019, https://www.gayly.com/parents-uncomfortable-gender-neutral-title-used-new-teacher. Accessed 8 November 2023.