Bathroom Gender Segregation at Harvard

Most people don’t think twice about going to the bathroom between classes. But for some people it may pose an uncomfortable decision: men’s room or women’s room?

For those whose gender identity or expression differs from their perceived gender, or are not always perceived as male or always perceived as female, this decision could result in discrimination, harassment and embarrassment. Most bathrooms are labeled as women’s or men’s, making bathroom accessibility one of the most fundamental challenges that faces Harvard’s transgender and gender-variant students, faculty and staff. Many transgender and gender-variant people have been arrested or violently assaulted for using the “wrong” bathrooms, such as in the case of lawyer Dean Spade, a transgender man who was arrested for entering a public men’s restroom in Grand Central Station. Living as transgender or genderqueer is not a crime, and such people deserve equal access to all Harvard facilities, including bathrooms.

These risks often lead many to avoid using campus bathrooms altogether. Numerous health problems can develop when people avoid using bathrooms. These health risks include developing urinary tract infections, over-stretching the bladder muscles and even kidney failure. People may also avoid eating and drinking regularly to avoid using bathrooms, resulting in dehydration and poor nutrition habits. Studies have shown that rates of these health problems among trans people are much higher than average.

This year, the Harvard Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Supporters Alliance (BGLTSA) conducted a College-wide study of bathrooms. During the next few weeks, the BGLTSA will screen “Toilet Training,” a documentary video that uses personal accounts of transgender and gender-variant people to show the harassment that people face in segregated bathrooms. The BGLTSA has also located 38 campus bathrooms that do not specify gender, and has posted their locations on the BGLTSA website (www.hcs.harvard.edu/~queer).

There are many areas of campus that do not offer people the option of using gender-non-specific or single-stall bathrooms. Most classroom buildings have not a single gender-non-specific bathroom, forcing many of Harvard’s transgender and gender-variant students either to enter a bathroom that does not correspond with their gender identity or expression, risk violence or arrest or avoid using bathrooms during the day. For instance, if someone is not immediately perceived as female in a women’s bathroom, people may scream “there’s a man in the women’s restroom.” People may call the police, or threaten and physically harm the person.

Those people who face these risks may prefer to use single-stall bathrooms if there are not gender-non-specific bathrooms nearby. These bathrooms can be locked and offer privacy so people cannot claim that they are using the wrong bathrooms. An easy way to help those of us who face these risks would be to ensure that all single-stall bathrooms be available to people of all genders. The BGLTSA found 24 bathrooms on campus that are single-occupancy and are labeled for a particular gender. Many of these bathrooms are located in main buildings, such as the Science Center, which do not offer students the option of using gender-non-specific bathrooms.

Some people claim that this issue only affects a small subset of people at Harvard. However, bathroom accessibility is a major issue for those of us whom it does affect here. Opponents of gender-non-specific single-stall bathrooms have argued that desegregating these bathrooms by gender would decrease cleanliness. This is not a reason to keep single-stall bathrooms as gender marked: everyone should strive to make Harvard’s bathrooms a little cleaner, regardless of gender. Opponents also argue that a change in accessibility would increase the risk of women being harassed by men in the bathroom. But it is difficult to see what the serious issue of harassment on campus has to do with signs on bathroom doors that restrict basic freedoms from members of the community.

Additionally, not all gender-non-specific single-stall bathrooms are clearly marked. Many such bathrooms are located in House entryway basements without clear markings, making it easy to confuse them with janitorial closets or storage rooms. A sign only costs a few dollars and would be a small investment that Harvard could easily afford. There should also be directions in Houses and classrooms that indicate the locations of gender-non-specific bathrooms.

Ensuring bathroom accessibility for all of Harvard’s community members must also be a consideration when planning building projects for campus expansion, including the many new buildings on the Allston campus. Harvard is currently taking student input in its building projects, and even speaking with environmental activists to properly address environmental concerns. Students, faculty and staff should e-mail Dean of the College Benedict H. Gross ’71 and University President Lawrence H. Summers to tell them that we think that it is important for all people to have fair access to bathroom facilities.

The next time that you go into a public bathroom, think about the difficulties that many Harvard students, faculty and staff face while doing something so basic. Show that you disapprove of Harvard’s gender-segregated single-stall bathrooms by only using gender-non-specific bathrooms for just one week. All students, faculty and staff have a right to use bathrooms without the threat of harassment, discrimination or embarrassment.

The BGLTSA discovered that Winthrop House, Mather House, Eliot House, the De Wolfe St. apartments, the Science Center, Widener Library and University Hall all have single occupancy bathrooms labeled for men or women. After the results of the BGLTSA bathroom study were released last week, Currier House immediately changed the markings on four gender-specific single-occupancy bathrooms. Currier House also put up gender-non-specific signs on two other bathrooms that did not have bathroom signs on the doors. The changes in Currier House show that the bathroom accessibility demands of the BGLTSA can be quickly implemented. The administration and House Masters should respond by making similar changes in buildings and Houses that have single-occupancy bathrooms labeled for men or women.

Jordan B. Woods ’06 is a social studies concentrator in Currier House. He is the political chair of the Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Supporters Alliance.