Gender-neutral bathrooms considered

Stephen Cheng Staff Writer

Students, faculty, and administrators convened in the Rose Parlor on Thursday, Nov. 30 for an open forum concerning gender-neutral restrooms at Vassar College.

Attendees received a handout entitled “Gender-Segregated Restrooms: The Problem,” which contained a “priority list” of buildings that the Queer Coalition of Vassar College (QCVC), which sponsored the forum, said were in need of transgender-accommodating restroom alterations. The handout stated, “We [at QCVC] feel that the restroom is one thing everyone in the community ought to be able to use without anxiety.”

Co-chair of QCVC Kelsey Smith ’07 hosted the discussion. “Basically, when all the bathrooms in one location are segregated, it creates an intimidating environment,” said Smith. “It causes a particular problem for people who are [transgender] or questioning their gender.”

Felix Wiemann ’10, who participated in the forum, concurred. Wiemann attested that his “everyday bathroom experience” tended to highlight the problem. He noted that people often become confused and awkward upon entering a gender-specific bathroom and seeing him inside. Nonetheless, he is optimistic about gender-neutral restrooms, saying “I think most people are comfortable with co-ed bathrooms. And I think others buildings should have [co-ed bathrooms] as well.”

The forum group requested the existence of more gender-neutral restrooms on campus, namely in the Thompson Library, Main Building, and Walker Field House. Smith said, “In every building there should be the possibility of designating a gender-neutral bathroom.” QCVC maintains a listing of the current types of restrooms in various campus buildings on its Web site.

Administrators at the forum showed support for establishing more gender-neutral restrooms. Associate Dean of the College Ed Pittman and Senior Associate Dean of the College Raymon Parker were present, as well as Executive Director of Buildings and Grounds Thomas Allen. In a later interview, Allen expressed willingness to accommodate to the proposals. He said, “I’d be happy to go ahead and change the single-stall bathrooms…I just need some direction.”

However, Dean of the College “JJ” Jackson made light of the possibility of critical responses to the proposals. “Regardless of what we do to the bathrooms,” she said, “there will be culture shock and opposition.”

No one at the meeting expressed outright opposition to the idea of gender-neutral bathrooms, either on ideological or logistical terms. However, Jackson said, “We must be careful not to impose one practice on the entire campus.”

In addition, Professor of Psychology Robin Nussbaum showed concern that gender-neutral restrooms could effectively relegate transgender people to separate social spaces. “We also have to be aware that it could impose a norm in which those who don’t conform would be forced to go to gender-neutral bathrooms,” she said. “And that’s not OK.”

The group also discussed the kinds of symbols that could potentially identify gender-neutral restrooms. Speakers debated about the different picture references and words that restroom signs should have. One participant proposed “unisex” as a descriptive term. According to another participant, a gender-specific restroom could easily be converted into a gender-neutral one by a mere sign change.

Speaking about implementing gender-neutral restrooms, Allen said, “It could happen before the next semester or during the semester, but the [forum] group would have to reconvene.”