Not that long ago, Target announced that it will no longer be labeling toys dictated for boys and girls. I believe this is a step in the right direction for society, but is it possible to “fix” the societal constructs that have been around for a few hundred years? And yes, I will bring up a topic that most people may say is not “appropriate” for casual conversation: using the restroom. 

Here on campus, there is a clear distinction between male and female restrooms with faculty bathrooms here or there. But, what happens if someone is dealing with how they don’t identify with a gender or the gender biology says they are? I hope people are starting to realize that gender is more complicated than just the XY sex-determination system.

I believe that the campus and beyond needs a third option for such scenarios. Even if it is a restroom with only one stall where people, for whatever personal situation they are experiencing at the moment, can have the option to use the restroom in privacy. College is already stressful and most people will agree that sometimes we don’t fully “find” ourselves until we have the chance to learn who we are. And for some, this is done in college. 

Before college, most would become stigmatized if they admitted they didn’t believe the biology taught in high school. But with societal norms beginning to change with help from those famous such as Isis King, Dr. Marci Bowers, Chaz Bono and Caitlyn Jenner (formally known as Bruce Jenner), I believe more and more college students will become confident in truly expressing who they are. Yet, when a student needs to use a restroom on campus, a clear distinction is set on where they will have to go if they aren’t in the privacy of their home. With the way politicians like to screw things up, I only half-heartily joke when I say a day will come when we will have to make a male and female bathroom in our homes for when guests are visiting.

This being said, I know that at the current moment Southeastern is following proper procedures and I can’t fault the university for that. But, I do think that the students, the staff or both need to start thinking of how all people are created equal and have a right to feel safe with who they are. With all people being equal, those who do not identify with a sex, unsure of what gender they are or for any other reason need not feel ashamed of choosing a bathroom, but should have an alternative option or simply turn the faculty restrooms into a gender-neutral restroom.

In an ideal world, the social constraints that dictate which bathroom is used wouldn’t even be up for discussion. There would be one bathroom for all since we are all supposed to go to the restroom for one purpose, to get rid of bodily fluids that we no longer wish to keep in us. But since we do not live in an ideal world, let us settle for another option. I wouldn’t consider it the next best option, but another option none the less. Let us figure out a way to have a gender neutral bathroom to incorporate all people, no matter what gender they may consider themselves. And it is also important to remember, you don’t choose another person’s gender, they choose their own and they have every right to walk into the restroom of the sex they identify with.