Same-sex bathrooms at U of Chicago

[Swift Terror 0]

http://maroon.uchicago.edu/news/articles/2...ls_for_neut.php

 

For most people, deciding which bathroom to use in the Regenstein Library does not require mental gymnastics. But for some, a trip to the restroom is less simple, with gay, lesbian, and transgendered students worried about the implications of which bathrooms they enter.

 

At the Center for Gender Studies on Wednesday night, a panel of four discussed the need for gender-neutral bathrooms on campus, specifically one in the Regenstein and one in Cobb Hall.

 

Members of Feminist Majority, Queers & Associates, and the Center for Gender Studies organized the panel as part of the Coalition for a Queer Safe Campus.

“Going to the bathroom is a moment where definition is very important in choosing a door,” said Mary Anne Case, one of the panelists.

 

She pointed out that many women’s restrooms have a caricature of a person in a dress on it. “Going into it implies that we are willing to be associated with that image. There are only two [images] to choose from. This moment involves an act of self-labeling.”

 

The bathrooms would materially remain the same, but both sexes would be allowed to use either one. There are already bathrooms like this in Pierce and BJ.

 

Bill Michel, deputy dean of the College, said that the University was just beginning to research the issue. “I was pleased that the students organized on open panel discussion to highlight the issues and encourage community discussion on the topic,” he said. “If we are to make this change it would be in order to meet the needs of members of our community.”

 

Michel said that he would review the practical issues and assess the impact of the change with the students who made the request.

 

Ana Minyan, the moderator of the panel, said that bathrooms will be called gender-neutral, rather than co-ed, because, “this terminology is generally used to refer to two sexes while the gender-neutral tends to be associated with more diversity and fluidity within the sex-gender continuum. As our aim is to make everyone, no matter what their gender and/or sexual persona is, more comfortable, we are using the term gender-neutral.”

 

The panelists pointed out that many of the supposed benefits of gender-segregated bathrooms are in fact weaknesses of the system. Case, who is involved with ongoing anecdotal research on gender iniquities in bathroom allotments, called her research “the toilet survey” to ridicule the disadvantages associated with conception of separate but equal.

 

The questionnaire asks patrons at restaurants, stadiums, and other public places to mark how many stalls and urinals are in their restroom. It also asks what additional “services” each offers (mirror, attendant, baby-changing table, etc.).

 

Case said that the safety of these bathrooms that appeals to many women is, in fact, an illusion. She pointed out that much male-on-female violence occurs in women’s bathrooms, perhaps because of this illusion.

 

“People get all worked up about [women having their own space], but then they realize it’s not as perfect as they thought,” said panelist Naomi Sobel.

“Gender is what is being policed in women’s and men’s restrooms, not sex—people react to your presentation, not your genitals,” Sobel added via e-mail.

An issue that emerged from discussion several times was the “dailyness,” or the frequency with which one is confronted with the fear of ridicule for walking into the wrong bathroom.

 

Red Vaughan Tremmel, another panelist, said that she knew someone who was making a cross-country road-trip and bought an RV to avoid using public bathrooms. “At first, my reaction was, ‘Oh wow, what a great idea,’ but then I thought, ‘Wow that’s sad that someone would have to go to such lengths to feel comfortable,’” she said.

 

Nate Claxton, another panelist, knew people who had contracted bladder infections because choosing a gender bathroom bothered them so much that they did not go to the bathroom all day.

 

Reaction around campus to the idea of gender-neutral bathroom was mixed. Roger Simon, a second-year in the College, agreed with the idea. “I believe that if all parts of the body were treated equally, and there was not so much emphasis on genitalia, than people could move beyond gender differences and grow mentally and socially,” he said.

 

Sheera Talpaz, a first-year in the College, added, “You might have a hard time getting most people to use those bathrooms, which would alienate the people you’re trying to help out.”

 

 

So how many here would be OK with having the opposite sex in the same bathroom with you? Great idea?

 

 

(South Park so needs to do an episode on this. Think of the possibilities.)

[Big McLargeHuge 0]

I dunno about the idea of taking a shit in the same room as a fem, honestly.

 

Doesn't seem right.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Maybe people's genders should stop being so damn ambiguous.

[Steviekick 0]

I don't understand why the question of bathroom gender and sexuality is being asked at all. It's the freaking men's (or women's) room. You pick the room based on your plumbing, not your orientation.

[Guest Fook]

I don't understand why the question of bathroom gender and sexuality is being asked at all. It's the freaking men's (or women's) room. You pick the room based on your plumbing, not your orientation.

exactly right

 

gay = men's

lesbian = women's

transgender = flip a coin

 

it's not rocket science

[Damaramu 0]

This just doesn't sound good..

Girls do things in the bathroom and have gossip that guys shouldn't see....and guys make noises in the bathroom that girls shouldn't hear or smell.

Plus imagine sitting there in the bathroom and smelling the nastiest shit and hearing all these terrible noises and then find out that it was the hot girl you've been lusting after all semester....not good I say....

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Whenever Members of Feminist Majority, Queers & Associates, and the Center for Gender Studies get together, nothing good can come from it.

 

She pointed out that many women’s restrooms have a caricature of a person in a dress on it. “Going into it implies that we are willing to be associated with that image. There are only two [images] to choose from. This moment involves an act of self-labeling.”

 

Oh Jesus Christ, more of this type of psycho-talk. OMG girl babies are dressed in pink -- STEREOTYPING!!!

 

Can't wait for the first sexual harassment lawsuit brought up by a chick, whether gay or straight, because some guys were making lewd comments in the gender-neutral restroom...

[Big McLargeHuge 0]

This just doesn't sound good..

Girls do things in the bathroom and have gossip that guys shouldn't see....and guys make noises in the bathroom that girls shouldn't hear or smell.

Plus imagine sitting there in the bathroom and smelling the nastiest shit and hearing all these terrible noises and then find out that it was the hot girl you've been lusting after all semester....not good I say....

That's impossible. Girls don't take shits.

[Damaramu 0]

Yeah...sure..........

I just asked my mom.....A GIRL(as far as I know...... ) and she pretty much said "I don't want to share a bathroom with a man. I don't want to be putting on my lipstick while some ugly guy stands behind me trying to get my phone number....I deal with that from your father enough."

[CanadianChris 0]

Nate Claxton, another panelist, knew people who had contracted bladder infections because choosing a gender bathroom bothered them so much that they did not go to the bathroom all day.

Good God. Pick a room and do your business, it's not rocket science.

 

“this terminology is generally used to refer to two sexes while the gender-neutral tends to be associated with more diversity and fluidity within the sex-gender continuum.

Maybe I spoke too soon.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

This title confused me.

 

Aren't same-sex washrooms what we have now?

[Nighthawk 0]

Yeah...sure..........

I just asked my mom.....A GIRL(as far as I know...... ) and she pretty much said "I don't want to share a bathroom with a man. I don't want to be putting on my lipstick while some ugly guy stands behind me trying to get my phone number....I deal with that from your father enough."

Wouldn't your father already know your mom's phone number?

[godthedog 0]

Yeah...sure..........

I just asked my mom.....A GIRL(as far as I know...... ) and she pretty much said "I don't want to share a bathroom with a man. I don't want to be putting on my lipstick while some ugly guy stands behind me trying to get my phone number....I deal with that from your father enough."

your father still doesn't know your mother's phone number?

 

EDIT: god damn 'south park' for temporarily distracting me & allowing someone else to make the same comment first.

[Damaramu 0]

Yeah...sure..........

I just asked my mom.....A GIRL(as far as I know...... ) and she pretty much said "I don't want to share a bathroom with a man. I don't want to be putting on my lipstick while some ugly guy stands behind me trying to get my phone number....I deal with that from your father enough."

Wouldn't your father already know your mom's phone number?

You'd think so...wouldn't you?

[Guest Jimbo]

I'm not sure which disturbs me more, the fact that people care this much about public restoroms, or that people actually came together to discuss such matters.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Don't people have better crusades to fight then same sex bathrooms.

 

How hard is it to go in the women's room and the men's room. I mean really.

[Red Baron 0]

think of the new possible pick up lines that can be heard on Letterman top ten list about this issue.

[Tawren 0]

What morons. "I'm a gay male, so I need to use the...um...men...no...women...no...executive...no..."

 

Fucking morons.

[Cuban Linx 0]

I blame Ally McBeal for all of this.

[CanadianChris 0]

I blame society. More specifically, I blame the dumb people in society.

[Slayer 0]

Two words: Bloody rags

[Hoff 0]

I blame society. More specifically, I blame the dumb people in society.

Yep.

 

Here's a thought: if you're going to argue over this stupid shit, how about campaigning to get the pictures removed from the doors. I'm pretty sure gay people are still men or women.

[Nighthawk 0]

Actually, the picture's are the same, except one is in a skirt. How confusing for the Scottish.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

They should just replace them with mosaics of male and female genitalia.

[1234-5678 0]

They should just replace them with mosaics of male and female genitalia.

Yeah, that might actually help these confused morons.

 

If you're too stupid to know which bathroom you belong in, then piss or shit yourself and become the object of even more ridicule then you usually are, freak.

[Swift Terror 0]

Whoops--yeah, the title should have been sex-neutral bathrooms or something like that.

 

And, as mentioned earlier, how would you like to emerge from a stall, after having a particularly nasty shit, and finding a hot girl right outside the stall... Not cool.

[Mole 0]

I wouldn't care one bit.

 

If women want to smell my shit, then that is all up to them.

[Slayer 0]

Wait a minute, which is the real issue here: The "everyone goes into the same bathroom" concept, or the "stupid signs on doors" issue?

[Guest Plushy Al Logan]

I'm the very reason why there should not be Same-Sex bathrooms. I actually became aroused by reading this thread.

[Damaramu 0]

I'm the very reason why there should not be Same-Sex bathrooms. I actually became aroused by reading this thread.

Your the very reason why nothing should happen....ever.