Gender-Neutral Restrooms: Acceptance or Rejection in Public Places Throughout time, men and women have used restrooms according to their respective sex. Females go through the door with a picture of a person resembling a woman and males go through the door with a picture of a person resembling a man. Now, as people are more willing to express themselves by living a certain lifestyle, such as being a transgender person, going to public restrooms has become more complicated. There are some people who believe that transgender people should not use restrooms if they are not their assigned biological sex. By creating gender-neutral restrooms, people do not have to feel discriminated or harassed if they are denied access to the restroom. If people are uncomfortable, using a gender-neutral restroom creates a safe space of no-judgement. Anyone can benefit from using this restroom, if they have children of another gender or people who …show more content…
Gender segregated restrooms can be intimidating for transgender people because they do not want to be seen as someone they are not. Especially in schools when children typically begin to accept their new gender, making them feel safe will help them maintain their academics, so they are not constantly worrying about which restroom to use. By redesigning stalls to make sure they are private enough, anyone is free to use it. Many college students feel anxious and resort to using a restroom further away because they are safer and more private, or avoid using campus restrooms altogether (Beemyn, Curtis, Davis, & Tubbs, 2005). Many students are questioning their sexuality and gender identity earlier in life and coming out at young ages so going to an existing restroom might be difficult for them. Therefore, a school should be able to be supportive of their concerns and create a safe space for them to prevent bullying and other negative
Some people have a problem with transgender people using the ¨wrong restroom.¨ In the article “Seat of Unrest” by Sara GoodYear she explains that ¨The board is voting on whether he should be allowed to use the boys restroom at Gloucester High
They deserve to feel safe in school, be protected from physical harm, and use the bathroom of their choice. The progress to giving them the liberties they yearn for, however, is slowed by the naive human beings that compose our society. Our country is filled with people that view themselves as kind, forgiving and welcoming, but they do not fight for what is right. Because our population is trapped in a utopian version of humanity, we cannot promote righteousness. Nevertheless, transgender students need us see the legitimate nature of civilization. In order for our world to match our currently inaccurate picture of life, we need to step out of our distorted reality. Since transgender students constantly face discrimination and violence, it is urgent that we create laws that specifically outline the freedoms belonging to transgender students, instead of mimicking the vague list of rights already part of federal law. With definitive legislation, we can effectively implement change. By making laws regarding the rights of transgender students, and then rigorously administering those rulings, we can change the way our society treats transgender students, and dramatically increase their quality of
Here in Canada, this issue has been brought forward in both communities and provincial level of concerns. To take a look closer to home, the city of Toronto had witnessed the complexity of this issue in the past years. A Toronto transgender teen who identifies as a male, was banned from using his high school boys restroom, and was forced to leave school grounds and search for a public bathroom at a gas station. Concerns were mentioned for the safety of Spencer, and also how he felt uncomfortable being forced to use the women’s restroom; however, several parents and students agreed with how the school was taking action to this problem. After a petition was enacted by fellow supportive students, Spencer was allowed to freely use the restrooms at his high school.
It is a known fact that both men and women use the restroom. What many are not aware of, is that using the toilet in public areas reinforces the differences between male and female. For instance, the very first thing any individual sees when entering a public restroom is the little dolls of a man or a woman as an indication of a female restrooms and or the male restrooms. This simple sign reaffirms the sexual differences of gender and also unconsciously the individual’s identity for that matter. The concept of gender neutral bathrooms is to break the imaginary wall of gender separation thus allowing either sex to use one single restroom. If we think about it, in our home we share one restroom, and are pretty much accepting of the fact that we all use the toilet. The book states that gender salience is the relation of gender across activities and spaces. The book further discusses that when teachers would place children alphabetically versus by gender the importance of gender reduced. Gender is a persistent element in any school. The concept is simple when it boils down to education the main purpose is to place the students together by groups of the ones that are getting the material and are able to proceed to the next or placing them in a group of students that need more time grasping the given material and curriculum. Although gender salience is like a roller coaster in different parts of the elementary school experience the flow of gender is a persistent element in education. Gendered bathrooms, as previously discussed reinforces the differences between male and female. Back in the Victorian era, they created restrooms for women with a special room that had a resting area before entering the section in which the restrooms were located. This was primary because back then it was not lady like to dispose bodily fluids. They believe that women should keep such matters private, and it was pretty much unheard of for women to even use the restrooms the way it is indented. Till this day many women restrooms still have a resting area before entering the restroom section. Bathrooms are designed with an assumption that everyone is heterosexual. Thus not allowing the possibility of that many individuals don’t
The U.S. federal government is backing the issue of gender neutral bathrooms. As Lisa Rein, publisher of an article in The Washington Post, writes, “The federal government is strongly urging employers to give transgender employees access to bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity, marking a new policy front
The U.S. federal government is backing the issue of gender neutral bathrooms. As Lisa Rein, publisher of an article in The Washington Post, writes, “The federal government is strongly urging employers to give transgender employees access to bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity, marking a new policy front in the fast-moving campaign for transgender equality” (Rein). Rein argues that bathrooms need to be made neutral, as it discriminates members of the LBGT community. Essentially, she argues throughout her article that emotional issues are the biggest reason to allow this. She states, “Among the many forms of discrimination advocates for transgender men and women say they face on the job,
It is 2016, and today's society has become a more diverse community than ever. Although more people have become open-minded there is still one issue that is considered to be controversial. The issue among transgender people, and the creation of neutral gender bathroom. This issue has become controversial between the transgender community and the government. The reason behind this problem is that the transgender community in the recent years has gain momentum in being accepted by society, but not the government. In my case, I believe that the creation of neutral gender bathroom can bring a negative impact both psychological discomfort and physical danger to the population.
Transgender rights and policies have always been an ongoing debate. In the article, “Bathroom Battlegrounds and Penis Panics,” Schilt and Westbrook (2015) argued that in order to push gender equality forward, we must consider the rights of transgender people by allowing them to have access to bathrooms that support their gender identity rather than their biological sex. In doing so, authors believed that it would make progress in alleviating discrimination against transgender people. However, in this conscious effort to fight for transgender rights and their access to sex-segregated spaces,
These kind of people want to and will try to make someone’s life as hard as possible simply because they see this subject differently. The simple, daily task of using the bathroom is a breeze for any typical person. Unfortunately, this task comes across as a intimidating adversary to a trans person simply because one can be conflicted with which restroom to use. For many trans people, entering a gender-specific bathroom can be a source of stress and anxiety, because using the restroom can mean very real health and safety concerns. Harassment of trans people in and around gender-specific bathrooms can range from denial of use to police intervention to verbal threats and physical assault.
Some in favor of transgender bathrooms claim that anyone can be anything they want. Although this is true, you can’t just eat someone because you think you are a lion, and the same goes with gender. Olipocket on debate.org argued, “If you have a penis, regardless of what you look like on the outside, then you need to use the men's room. If you have a vagina, regardless of what you look like on the outside, then you need to use the women's room.” This proves that no matter who you think you are, it can’t top who you really are. If you are really a man then you use the men’s bathroom. It’s that simple. Not only is this common sense, it also protects people’s privacy. Women don’t want men looking at them in the bathroom. So, in order to avoid complexity in the laws, if you have male parts, you go in the men’s and same with women. Next, Dann states, “The transgendered person however is NOT a woman, and unfortunately never will be. They have created their own artificial gender - Transgender. They still possess an Adam's apple. They still possess other immutable male qualities too. Although they may see themselves as women, the rest of the world and, most importantly, those who they will be allowed to share that most private of places, the bathroom, with, won’t see them as such.” Even transgender women are artificial. They aren’t real. Even if they have a fake vagina,
Public bathrooms are meant to be something simple which means that there is ultimately one for each gender, given male or female. Dating back to the years when men and women used the same facilities to during segregation when bathrooms were separated between men, women, and colored to what it’s like today shows that it’s not the first time that bathroom facilities have divided America’s people. And as the world evolves and changes, new problems dealing with bathrooms seem to arise and now one of those issues being about transgender students and which bathroom is acceptable for them to use in public schools. For those that may not know, the term transgender refers to those of who identify themselves as being the opposite sex rather than the sex that was determined at birth. A student in school who may identify as a transgender is going into the bathroom to do the same as any other student or person in the building. They go in to take care of their business, leave, and then return to class. Parents of the students in these public schools tend to be concerned and state that it’s dangerous because of the possibility of sexual violence in bathrooms, but then again people might view it differently if they were in the shoes of the transgender who constantly feels as if they are stuck in the wrong body. Even though many people do fear the risk of sexual violence in school bathrooms, people who identify themselves as transgender should be able to use the
In hope that unisex bathrooms will be available to people nation-wide, supporters push to allow individuals to use the restroom that correspond with their gender identity. Advocates fight for unisex bathrooms because denying rights may cause emotional and psychological damage, especially to children, the percentage of individuals with gender dysphoria will rise, and critics argue that neutral
The definition of someone's “Biological Sex” Is the genitalia and XY Chromosomes someone is born with at birth. A person who has been born a male but personally identifies as a female would be transsexual and would need to ask themselves which bathroom they belong in. According to Jacob Tobia, a genderqueer individual, “For most trans people, particularly young trans people who are still understanding their identity, no gendered restroom is comfortable. That is why we must begin a national conversation about gender-neutral restrooms.” (Tobia) Neither the Male nor Female restroom is seen as a safe place to do their business in the trans community. Some LGBTQ members decribried the personal battle they fight ever single time they choose a restroom. Going through the pros and cons of their decision before relieving themselves. On the other side of the Argument, people against Gender neutral bathrooms want to protect the privacy safety and dignity of public restrooms along with those that use them. This is including, but not limited to, Women and children. The oppositions view point is that without separate restrooms Instances of Sexual misconduct including Pedophilia and Rape would increase due to and ease of access for the abuser. The
In past generations, it has been clear to society that males and females use segregated bathrooms. It is also known that the rate of transgender people has been growing over the past years. Transgender people constantly face troubles when using a bathroom in public. Nevertheless, as society has become more aware of the transgender population and the issues that they face, many schools have had to decide how they will respond about the issue of school bathrooms when students identify themselves as transgender. A school should be able to provide separate facilities based on sex, but must allow transgender students access to the facility which matches their gender identity.
People tend to look passed the ones whom this debate affects. A survey was taken of over 2,000 transgender college students on the effects of the bathroom debate. This survey showed that the suicide attempt rate "increased 40% among those who said they had been denied access to a bathroom" (Scherer et al n.p.). People who are not considered normal by societal standards may have a hard time coping with the hate they receive. This hate can lead to extremes such as the attempt to commit suicide. The allowance or denial of access to a bathroom led to an increase in suicide attempt rates. Those not affected by the issue do not realize the emotional and physical hardship that transgender people go through. In Washington, D.C., a survey of 100 transgender people was taken. In this survey, "70% said they had been denied restroom access or harassed, and 58% said they has avoided going out in public because they feared being able to find a bathroom" (Scherer et al n.p.). The accommodations of both sides of the debate would allow everyone to feel safer in his or her own community. Family restrooms allow complete privacy and do not discrimination based on gender. Access to these types of facilities would never be denied. Allowing people access to the bathroom they choose opened an entire new side of the issue in