The aim of the exercise [of gender-neutral pronouns] is to remove any hint of gender from the language. It’s the goal of people who feel that being identified as male or female is a trap, or a prison, and wish to break free. They do not “identify” as either of the conventional genders, and feel their perspective should be recognized and respected by others, and that the language should be adapted to suit their needs.

Peterson objects. He says 98% of males “identify” as males, and 98% of females see themselves as females. He notes that New York City’s Commission on Human Rights has recognized 31 gender identities, from Femme Queen to Non-Op, to Hajira, Pangender, Gifted Gender, Butch, Two-Spirit and Person of Transgender Experience. “Man” and “Woman”, thankfully, made the list, but there are any number of others that could be added, such as cisgender, bicurious or variant.

Memorizing and correctly using whatever pronoun any adherent to any of those options demands — plus whatever others may crop up in the future — strikes Peterson as impractical and unrealistic. “We’re going to have 31 different classes of pronouns?” he asked Postmedia’s Christie Blatchford. “It’s just not possible. People can’t do that. Our language doesn’t allow for that; we can’t remember that; what if we make a mistake?”

“The pronoun issue is straightforward,” added Peterson. “I won’t mouth the words of ideologues, because when you do that you become a puppet for their ideology.”