27
Nov
2018
Nov
2018
Script for Public Controversy Project
categories: RCL
- A brief history of transgenderism on college campuses/college dorms/including females
- In 2018, a man would not bat an eye at sharing a classroom with a woman. Although this is something that is almost never debated, and almost universally accepted, it was not always. In the 1800s, it was argued over whether women should be allowed in previously all male colleges. Institutions funded separate schools for women, instead of allowing them to integrate with the men. And women were often discouraged from going to schools that technically allowed women. The idea of gender inclusion has changed drastically over the years. Although now, women are included and integrated into college environments, the same cannot be said about transgender students. Many feel that transgender students should live in a dorm that reflects their born sex, although others feel that transgender students should live in a room reflecting their gender identity. Some previous solutions provided were to offer housing separate from other students, so they could live in a room by themselves where they did not have to worry about matching their roommate gender with their own. Or, there are housing options specifically for transgender students. However, would that be truly inclusive of the transgender students? Or does it take from their college experience, by exiling them from the typical college dorm, and instead keeping them separate to keep them safe?
- Legal history – title IX and dear colleague
- Title IX was originally created to prohibit sex discrimination in any educational activity receiving federal financial support. Although its original intention was to eliminate gender discrimination in athletics/educational programs/activities, it has evolved to combat other forms of discrimination, harassment, and violence. In recent history, with the increasing emphasis put on LGBTQ+ rights, Title IX has changed to reflect the changing attitudes towards gender identity. Under the Obama administration, in 2015, the department of Education reaffirmed their policy of “prohibiting recipients of federal financial assistance from discriminating on the basis of sex, including gender identity and failure to conform to stereotypical notions of masculinity or femininity.” Although “regulations permit schools to provide sex-segregated restrooms, locker rooms, shower facilities, housing, athletic teams, and single-sex classes under certain circumstances” these schools must treat transgender students consistent with their gender identity according to the letter written by the department. And this idea was emphasized in the Dear Colleague letter released by the government, the following year, stating that “discrimination based on a student’s gender identity, including discrimination based on a student’s transgender status” is not permitted. And, according to this letter, a medical diagnosis or treatment is not required for being treated consistently with one’s gender identity.
- Under the current Trump administration, however, the Education Department is changing their rules with civil rights complains about transgender students and bathrooms. They are no longer investigating such complains, and Betsy DeVos (Education Secretary) rescinded previous guidances, and instead grants states and individual school districts the ability to determine how to accommodate transgender students. They believe that transgender students are not given the right to use the bathroom of their choice according to Title IX. They claim that although Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, it does not on the basis of gender identity. So, because bathrooms have regulations to provide separate facilities based on sex, the current administration argues that regulating bathroom use by transgender students is not discrimination prohibited by Title IX. Similar sentiments may be felt about college dorms, because similarly to bathroom use, college dorms are typically divided by gender. And since the new administration does not believe that Title IX protects gender identity discrimination, the new administration may prohibit students from living in dorm rooms with students of the opposite gender that they were born with (regardless of their current identity).
- Penn State made a change in their culture because of the changes from the Obama Administration. Penn State released in their NonDiscrimination Policy that includes that the University does not tolerate harassment or discrimination against people due to their “sexual orientation, gender, perceived gender, and gender identity”
- The Association of Residence Hall Students decided to create gender inclusive housing beginning the academic year from 2016-2017.