Hello,
Ps. This will be a little long. Besides the conversation here, could you please forward it to a decision-maker/administrator?
I am creating a website using wp-spreadplugin. I am selling lgbtq+ designs and my website is gender-neutral. But including me, everyone that I sent my website for critique found it very repulsive to force people to select one of “Mr.” or “Ms.” binary gender pronouns in the checkout process.
And it is not only my website. I checked for “lgbt” designs in www.spreadshirt.com own website. There are 167 pages of lgbt designs and 60 designs per page. And more than 90% of them are relevant designs. So there are more than 9000 lgbt designs on your website and I know that spreadshirt is a lgbtq+ friendly company.
But forcing people to select a binary gender is contradicting it.
- Isn’t it possible to at least add “ Mx. ” and “ prefer not to say ” options to the checkout process?
Making a small change like this would let you engage with lgbtq+ supporters on a more meaningful level as they would realize and appreciate your genuine care about your inclusive language. And this is the right thing to do.
Inclusive language is especially important to Millenials and Generation Z who have accelerated the movement to make everything more inclusive and the issue is often personal for them.
- If it isn’t that mandatory, this question can even totally be removed.
Below is the list of some companies in your sector that do not ask this question in the checkout:
- TeeSpring
- RedBubble
- Zazzle
- Society6
- Design By Humans
- Threadless
- SunFrog
- CafePress
- TeeFury
- Fine Art America
- Look Human
- , so on.
Below you can find 2 links about designing gender-neutral/gender-inclusive forms and its importance. I strongly recommend checking them as they explain the situation very well.
thank you very much for your time.