Toilets are becoming gender neutral
The University of Oslo has decided to introduce gender-neutral toilets at all faculties.
– For the university management it is very important that the University of Oslo (UiO) is open and inclusive for all, said Deputy Rector Ragnhild Hennum.
Work is now underway to identify which toilets can be gender neutral.
– It is important that everyone feels welcome on campus and have toilets that are perceived as safe and does not categorize or exclude.
The decision came after the Student Parliament at UiO decided last autumn to fight for gender neutral toilets. Universitas interviewed the trans person Vegard Sørnes who hoped to go to the toilet without getting comments. So now the university administration is prepared to introduce the long-awaited measure.
Very good
National Association for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people (LLH) thinks that the university takes a big step in the right direction. The new toilets will remove many obstacles for transgender people, says communication advisor Ingvild Endestad.
– We think this is a great decision, and it sends a signal that the university is a place for all genders. Many do not think about this every day, but it can be very challenging for those who violate gender norms. Many fear sanctions, glances or in the worst case violence and harassment when they visit the traditional gender shared toilets, she says.
UiO and the student parliament are now working to prepare a sign to fit the new restrooms. Several considerations must be taken, and the signs must signal the gender neutrality and be universally recognizable.
– But how will the signs look like without offending anyone?
– Can’t it just say «toilet»? That’s it. It is the function of the room which should be signalled, not what gender it belongs to.
– Mental stress
Equality coordinator of the Student Parliament at the University, Heidi Bang, has been working since last autumn to get the new toilets up. She emphasizes that the University should come across as an inclusive university.
– It is incredibly important to have a diversity of human types in higher education. Here future workers are educated, and here research is done. Gender divided toilets is a big mental strain for people with unconventional gender expression. I hope that clearly signposted gender neutral toilets will raise awareness among students, says Bang.
The short term goal is to get at least one gender neutral toilet in each faculty. The long term goal is that this will be taken into account in the planning of new buildings and renovations of existing buildings on campus.
– When will the toilets be ready?
– The first toilets will probably be in place as early as this spring.
Spearheading
There is broad agreement that the University of Oslo's gender neutral toilets will have a great symbolic power. Heidi Bang hopes that this will inspire other educational institutions to make their campus more inclusive.
– This is not a very visible debate in Norway yet, but it is a big discussion in the United States. I think it's great that the University is now spearheading a conscious focus on gender neutral toilets. As far as I know UiO the first university to take a conscious decision to introduce gender-neutral toilets. This is an important political stance, says Bang.
The town hall in Tromsø and the White House in the US now have their own gender neutral toilets. Because of the university's many old buildings, it is difficult to say how many toilets will be built in the first place.
