Introduction
The contemporary school populations are increasingly becoming diverse, and thus institutions have to come up with creative ways of addressing the ever-evolving students’ needs. Specifically, schools with both gender-expansive and transgender students are often endeavoring to create an enabling environment that addresses the needs of such a diverse population. Most educators have to deal with the issue of the kind of washrooms that transgender students use in their schools. Therefore, the question of introducing gender-neutral toilets in schools arises, and it has drawn both criticism and support in equal measure. The implications of the decisions made concerning this matter traverse wide-ranging ethical, emotional, religious, legal, and privacy domains. All schools should have gender-neutral bathrooms because every child should feel safe in washrooms, it improves the health and learning capacity of students, and it addresses the problem of gender-based discrimination.
Why Introduce Gender-Neutral Washrooms in Schools
Schools should create an environment of safety for all students using bathrooms within institutions. According to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), across the US, “too many students avoid using bathrooms out of fear that another student might mistreat or harm them, emotionally or physically” (4). At the center of the debate on introducing gender-neutral toilets in schools is the question of why transgender students cannot simply use private rooms designated for such gender identity given that those that identify as boys and girls have their respective washrooms. However, transgender students face ever-increasing barriers to acceptance in schools, and requiring them to use private rooms creates an enabling environment for stigmatization and further discrimination (Hanımoğlu 45). It becomes easy to isolate these students from the rest and allow bullying to take place when such individuals are easily identifiable, which underscores the concept of lack of safety for the affected persons. Bartholomaeus and Riggs argue that transgender students are highly likely to be bullied due to their sexual orientation (361). Therefore, gender-neutral bathrooms should be allowed in schools as a way of promoting inclusivity and preventing the isolation of transgendered students, which ultimately improves their safety.
However, critics of the presence of gender-neutral toilets in schools would rebut the above argument by claiming that other gender-specific students will be uncomfortable sharing washrooms with individuals that do not share the same gender. As such, while on the one hand, such toilets create safe spaces for transgender learners, on the other hand, those spaces become unsafe for the other students. For instance, some students might be worried about the possibility of seeing the private parts of other students, especially if they belong to the opposite sex. However, while these concerns are genuine, schools could have specific policies and guidelines concerning the kind of behaviors that are acceptable in washrooms (Slater 956). In most cases, the majority of students are self-conscious about their private parts being seen by their peers, and thus they take all the necessary measures to ensure that they are not exposed. According to NAIS, “Expectations for all students in any school context should also include a prohibition against leering at another student or making disparaging comments about another student’s body” (6). Therefore, the issue of making other students uncomfortable could be addressed through clearly stated school policies on students’ code of conduct in washrooms.
Additionally, gender-neutral toilets comprehensively address the problem of gender-based discrimination, which is a highly sensitive issue in modern times. Schools have the option of instructing transgender students to use private rooms for toilets, and while this approach seems plausible and logical, it entrenches the concept of gender-based discrimination. The idea of separating transgender students from the rest of their peers sends the wrong message that their gender identity is invalid or unreal, which underscores discrimination (Jones et al. 960). Consequently, given that such insidious message comes from the schools’ authorities, the very people supposed to be taking care of the students, affects the learners’ sense of self with devastating consequences, such as lack of self-worth and self-esteem (Seelman et al. 116). Therefore, some of the transgender students will opt not to use such private rooms for fear of the adverse repercussions associated with this practice. As such, it suffices to argue that gender-neutral restrooms should be introduced in schools as part of anti-discrimination based on gender.
However, the above argument could be rebutted by arguing that some students are cheeky, and thus they would pretend to be transgender in order to peek at the other gender. For instance, boys could disguise themselves as transgender so that they gain access to girls’ washrooms. However, the available evidence from various schools shows that children are unlikely to assert false gender identities with the sole purpose of accessing such facilities. In a study conducted on “17 public school districts with such inclusive policies – districts that together serve over 600,000 students – not a single one reported such scenarios” (NAIS 7). Therefore, based on this data, it is unlikely that students will access gender-neutral bathrooms intending to glance at the opposite sex. Additionally, schools have policies that regulate how students relate with each other to ensure privacy and discipline (Hafford-Letchfield et al., 4). Therefore, the question of some students being mischievous is a factor of the level of supervision by the administration and the general climate in terms of discipline, and it has nothing to do with having gender-neutral washrooms.
Finally, gender-neutral toilets facilitate students’ health and optimal academic performance. If transgender learners are forced to use private rooms, some might decide not to use such facilities, which compromises their health. Normally, the bladder should be emptied when full, and failure to this might lead to the accumulation of harmful bacteria leading to infection (Leung et al. 3). Additionally, apart from the physiological effects caused by urinary tract infections due to failure to empty the bladder, the affected students’ mental health is affected. According to Wilkinson et al., educational achievement by transgender students is highly subject to the level of discrimination experienced, especially in adolescence, when students are in secondary schools (146). As such, the affected students due to the failure to provide gender-neutral washrooms will not have the right mental state to focus on their studies due to constant ailments and stigmatization. Therefore, it is important for schools’ administrations to consider the possibility of introducing gender-neutral washrooms and help transgender learners to perform optimally and be of good health.
However, critics of these facilities have various objections, such as the discomfort and insecurity that straight students might experience sharing washrooms with their transgender counterparts. Lack of comfort and security by students are major concerns that every school should address comprehensively (Sanders and Stryker 781). However, introducing gender-neutral washrooms does not mean that the other form of toilets will be eliminated. Therefore, washrooms clearly marked for boys and girls would still exist alongside the other gender-neutral toilets. As such, students who are uncomfortable using washrooms that are not designated for any gender would have the option of using these other facilities. This assertion negates the question of some learners feeling insecure when sharing toilets with individuals who seemingly belong to the opposite gender. Additionally, the failure to provide safe places for transgender students in the name of ensuring the comfort of their straight counterparts is discriminatory in nature. Therefore, in the interest of fairness and equality in the way the diverse student populations are treated, gender-neutral washrooms should be introduced in all schools around the country.
Conclusion
The diversity of students in contemporary school environments is ever increasing. Therefore, schools should be in a position to create policies that address the unique student needs, whether by cultural, religious, or gender reasons. The issue of gender-neutral washrooms in schools has been controversial. However, as shown in this paper, it is clear that these facilities should be introduced in every school for various reasons. Transgender students will have an enabling environment to learn without being ostracized and stigmatized due to their gender identity. Additionally, gender-neutral washrooms will ensure that transgender students feel secure within school environments. The various counterarguments that could be used to rebut the support for these facilities are weak, as shown in this paper. The introduction of gender-neutral toilets does not imply the removal of other toilets designated for boys and girls. Therefore, based on the arguments presented in this paper, gender-neutral washrooms should be allowed in schools because they ensure the safety of transgender students, their health and educational performance, and it eliminates the problem of gender-based discrimination.
Works Cited
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