Part of my motivation to get involved with this project is due to much of my own personal experience. For instance, some days I do like to dress more “feminine,” and then there are days when I like to dress more “masculine” (the reason for the “” is because I feel that these are socially constructed, and I don’t personally feel like I have to identify as either one). With that being said, on those days that I do dress more “feminine,” it’s hard for me to make a decision of which washroom is the “safest” for me to use (a decision that may seem simple for other people), and during these times there are feelings of stress and anxiety that come up for me. And I mean, it does help to know that I’m not the only one, as there are other individuals who are “frequently subjected to overt and covert emotional abuse and physical harassment when they enter or exit gender-segregated washrooms.” This is part of the notion that “the personal is political,” and instead of just individualizing these experiences, making these experiences into a political discourse can be a site for potential social change. In other words, I feel as though this proposal is an opportunity to move beyond an individualized problem to create social change.
However, as we discussed in class, theses services operate under many difficult challenges and constraints. Especially with the cuts to the budget of The Status of Women Canada, these constraints are very much real and limit the potential of what we can do. Specifically for GBVPP, they cannot use the money from The Status of Women Canada to make structural changes and thus have to look for alternative funding to implement these much needed gender inclusive washrooms. Currently, the project is working on implementing one gender inclusive washroom in SUB, which has proven to be very complicated to say the least. And of course, I am only highlighting some of the main struggles – but my main point is that... yes it is hard work, but it is work that is meaningful, and it is work that matters (something that I truly believe in). Ultimately, “using a washroom safely and with dignity is a basic right of ALL people.”
Thank You!
I feel very empathetic with you tony, I take for granted the choice of going to the women's change room and not feeling fear or anxiety about this. I am glad you brought this up because before I read your blog I did not understand the purpose of gender neutral bathrooms at all!
ReplyDeleteI have had occasions where very masculine girls came into the bathroom and I thought they were boys, although I did not say anything I was a little confused! You have changed my mind on the need for these washrooms! Everyone deserves to feel safe no matter where they are!!
This reminds me of third world feminists, typical white middle class girls often assume things are different from the way life is for other people!
Tony, it is so encouraging to hear about the opportunity you have to be involved with the GBVPP and the gender inclusive washroom proposal! Like Jesse, I've often taken for granted that I am able to walk into a women's washroom without a second thought. In a strange way, washrooms have almost become my 'safe place'.The first time I realized what a privilege this truly is was in my Intro to Women's Studies course. I remember my classmates sharing stories of some of the awful reactions they had experienced just by walking into a washroom. That was heartbreaking! Excreting body fluids is a normal part of biological functioning. How did something so normal become so... I don't know – negative? Political? It's frustrating to know that walking into a washroom is such an inconsequential thing for me, something I am able to do every day with no consequences, while for some people it's an experience of stress and anxiety.
ReplyDeleteLast night I was able to attend Take Back the Night, and one of the washrooms was for women and gender creative individuals. I love the term 'gender creative', particularly when contrasted with terms like 'gender deviant', which, to me, have such negative connotations. The expression of gender is something to be celebrated! It is an expression of self. It is a brave and beautiful thing to step out of that gender binary! The very least we can do is create a washroom that's safe and accepting. I respect and admire you for rejecting that binary, and I'm so excited about this opportunity you have to work for change! It's wonderful to hear that this issue is getting attention, because there needs to be change.
Post script, you touched on the signage used on handicapped washrooms. I was just curious about the discussion around what kind of sign would be used for the gender inclusive washroom in SUB? I imagine the difficulty in creating a sign that is representative and inclusive of all people, but I agree that it's definitely something that's important, and, unfortunately, often the signs on handicapped washrooms do enforce that gender binary.