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Dolly Poll: Are genderless toilets a step too far?

loo.jpgManchester University have done away with Gents and Ladies, with the stickman and triangle-skirt lady going the way of all outmoded ideas as more literal an uncontentious signage takes their place. What was once the Gents is now billed as 'Urinals', and the room formerly known as Ladies will be simply 'Toilets'. While this will mean the little boys' room stays the preserve of those capable of weeing standing up, it does sound like Manchester University's women may be losing their traditional sanctuary of make-up, tampon machines and borrowed hairbrushes to a genderless free-for-all. Great news for those with non-traditionally defined genders, but is it all a step to far? Would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Posted by on October 1, 2008

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Comments

Wait, so guys get to keep their separate toilets, but anyone can walk into the other one? How is that genderless?

A real step forward would be just one, large free-for-all. But that would carry its own set of problems, I bet.

Posted by: Milena | October 1, 2008 2:24 PM

The media frenzy whipped up around this story is causing people to overlook quite a couple of things:

- this sign change is happening on one pair of toilets in the basement of the Students' Union; the rest of the SU toilets and all of the University toilets are unchanged. No-one is proposing to get rid of all the toilets and replace them with unisex ones.

- the signs say "Toilets" and "Toilets with urinals". Anyone can use whichever toilet they prefer, which is the whole idea. What was the "little boys' room" can now be used by anyone who wants to use it, not just men; great news for transmen who haven't yet transitioned.

- it's not a question of being *offended* by gender-separated toilets. It's a question of, for example, a trans student who presents as male but hasn't yet had chest surgery, and who can't go into either toilet without fear of abuse and possibly even violence.

I see absolutely no problem with making the Students' Union safer and more accessible for all its members.

Posted by: Joe | October 1, 2008 3:50 PM

A bar in Swansea has a unisex toilet and it really isn't that big of a deal. Really, it's great because it means that there isn't such a huge line for the girls toilets as we can all utilise any free toilet that's available.

I think it's a fantastic idea.

Posted by: Tara | October 2, 2008 11:03 AM

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