Gender-Neutral Accommodations

1. Gender-Neutral Accommodations Amber Rae Jolly and Eric R. Young

2. Objectives • To provide information about Gender Neutral Accommodations • To provide information about what other institutions have done to implement Gender Neutral Accommodations • To provide recommendations for the University of Mount Union in regards to Gender Neutral Accommodations

3. Understanding the Vocabulary • Sex- Refers to a person based on their anatomy (external genitalia, chromosomes, and internal reproductive system) (Berkley) • Gender Identity-Asocially constructed system of classification that ascribes qualities of masculinity and femininity to people. (Berkley)

4. Understanding the Vocabulary • Transgender- People who live all or substantial portions of their lives expressing an innate sense of gender other than their birth sex. (Marklein, 2004) • Transitioning-A complicated, multi-step process that can take years as transsexuals align their anatomy with their sex identity; this process may ultimately include sex reassignment surgery (Berkley)

5. Understanding the Vocabulary • Ze- Gender neutral pronouns that can be used instead of he/she. (Berkley) • Zir- Gender neutral pronouns that can be used instead of his/her. (Berkley)

6. Gender Neutral Accommodations Gender neutral accommodations are policies and programs that are intended to make the institution more open/accommodating for people of all genders, not just limiting it to males and females.

7. Gender Neutral Accommodations Examples: • Gender-Neutral Restrooms • Gender-Neutral Housing • Floors; Apartments; Restrooms within housing • Inclusive Forms • Application Process • Appropriate Signage • Identity Recognition

8. Research… • Nearly 300 colleges have updated their nondiscrimination policies to include gender identity and expression, and more than 50 campuses have gender-neutral housing. (Tilsley, 2010) • The University of Michigan conducts a confidential assessment of their housing needs to ensure that those needs are met (Gender-Neutral, 2009.). • According to the American College Personnel Association, one of the core values of the profession is creating a diverse environment (About ACPA, n.d.).

9. Other Institutions- OAC • Students have the opportunity to choose their roommate, regardless of the other person’s gender; separate sexes must be assigned to different bedrooms. –Capital • There have not been any requests for this type of housing. -Heidelberg • At this point in time, we don’t have any gender neutral housing options other than apartment style housing - men and women can live in the same unit, but not in the same bedrooms.-Muskingum • We do not offer gender neutral housing.-Ohio Northern • We don’t have a gender neutral housing option, but we have provided housing options for gender neutral students in the past. -Baldwin Wallace

10. Other Institution-NEOHO Institutions that have accommodations in both bathrooms and housing: Case Western (after first year), Oberlin (has a residence hall) Institutions that have some form of accommodations: Case Western, Oberlin, and BW. Bathrooms tend to be the first option schools have explored.

11. Other Institution- Methodist Duke University • “The allocation and creation of gender-neutral housing options for all undergraduates desiring to participate in such a system”. • “The addition of this living option on campus will not just benefit the LGBTQ community but the entire Duke community, especially independents, by providing more options” • “Campus Council resolves that gender designations should be removed from Central Campus beginning in the 2011-2012 academic year.”

12. Student Voices… Support • College is a crucial time, if you can’t be yourself to its fullest how might that hinder other growth, college is where changing start • One thing the school is big on is diversity, so this allows school to back up that statement and raise student awareness • A lot of homosexuals have issues finding roommates who are comfortable with the situation….or the rooming situation tends not to last long • As a transgender student, I want to live with guys since I associate more with that gender

13. Student Voices… Opposition • It is inappropriate, gives the school a bad image, parents would have issues sending students to an institution with that, females have been raped by male friends/male abuse in the past, unnecessary accommodation, perhaps in extreme cases it could be explored, females comfort level with the situation could be bad • Options for married people should be explored before this, men and women shouldn’t even share residence halls let alone rooms/apartments, it is a distraction to the education purpose of the campus, and it adds pressure to the learning environment

14. Recommendations • Approach Student Government for a resolution in favor of or against gender neutral accommodations • Present a similar presentation as this one • Establish a team to focus on accommodation implementation • Start Small and work towards bigger changes • Education students throughout the process • Summer Preview

15. References • http://geneq.berkeley.edu/lgbt_resources_definiton_of_terms#sex • (n.d.). About ACPA. Retrieved from: http://www2.myacpa.org/about-acpa/mission • (2009). Gender-Neutral Housing. Retrieved from: http://www.housing.umich.edu/node/955 • Marklein, M. (n.d). Gender-neutral comes to campus. USA Today. • Tilsley, A. (2010). New Policies Accommodate Transgender Students. Chronicle Of Higher Education, 56(39), A19-A20