Transgender Bathroom
In the recent years, the debate about transgender bathroom has sparked intense discussions in many schools reaching the national level. Statistics estimate that there are 700,000 transgender individuals across the United States, and this number is not as huge as alleged by various trans-activist groups (Westbrook et al, 32). Similarly, schools across the U.S have a considerable number of transgender students, thereby making the matter even more sensitive in learning institutions. Some schools have transgender laws, making the topic to elicit heated debates. Nonetheless, every person has its perspectives regarding this matter. As far as I am concerned, the law should not allow transgender people to select the bathroom of their choice basing on numerous reasons.
First, allowing transgender individuals to select the bathrooms of their preference would increase the chances of sexual violence or harassment among the students. This does not necessarily mean that transgender people shall be responsible for the sexual allegations; it may cause a situation where sex predators take such chances, and make sexual harassments to other students. In a society that comprises people of diverse backgrounds, it would be common to hear cases of sexual violence among students’ populace just because transgender students are permitted toshare the bathrooms with others. In essence, other pedophiles and perverts would easily abuse the law. Transgender persons are usually defined by their genitalia, and it would be fair if they use their restrooms basing on the gender they often relate to. There are many reported cases in the mainstream media about the issue of transgender people, and the challenges they often present to other people in public cloakrooms, and even bathrooms, and thus, schools should not follow the direction which may lead to many undesirable events of any nature. Moreover, if transgender people were not able to undergo surgery to have an established gender identity, then allowing them to select their restrooms basing on their preference would be inappropriate.. Additionally, the schoolshould consider having, or introducing ideas of neutral gender or unisex bathroom with single-occupancy.
Second, transgender people should not be allowed to select restrooms based on the gender they associate with, since sharing a bathroom with them violates privacy for many people. Schools should ensure that safety and confidentiality of an individual are maintained. A situation where transgender people are permitted to use bathrooms that conform to their gender identity, as indicated in the birth certificates, would make and individual exposed to the different sex anatomy. It can never be appropriate, especially when an individual privacy is breached. Imagine a scenario when you are in a bathroom, then someone of an opposite gender walks in, that would be shameful. In reality, it is normal for a man or a woman to have a considerable anticipation of privacy that they shall not meet a woman or a man respectively in the bathrooms. Transgender privacy violations disturb other individuals.Third, this should not be an issue of a fundamental right accorded to transgender people because a third option can be created, so it becomes a non-issue for debate. The third option here would mean establishing neutral restrooms, so that a discriminatory comment that emerges from another side is put into consideration. Making transgender individuals to select bathroom of their choice may not sound well to someone who upholds good social values and may not want to see genitalia of the opposite sex. Many people have an interest to see transgender using neutral restrooms, since pedophiles may present danger to other people.
Some proponents of the topic often argue that transgender individuals should not be denied their choice of bathrooms because of the fear that they can turn into perverts. Nonetheless, the majority of the people are furious by the idea of somebody of different gender walking in the bathroom. Proponents claim that even without bathroom rights for the transgender individuals, the possibilities of a person finding a way to the bathroom is still unquestionably high. For instance, they argue that a male rapist may walk in the women bathroom and pose an enormous danger. They also site that transgender persons rarely have sexual feelings for their desired gender, thus, it may just make sense for them to be allowed to use the bathroom of their choice and sexual alignment may not be relevant in this scenario (Weinberg 147). Furthermore, lesbian and gay persons who are attracted to similar sex are not excluded from using bathrooms that conform to their gender identity (Westbrook et al. 32).
In conclusion, the debate on allowing transgender persons to select restrooms of their choice based on their sex identity would continue, since people have various perspectives on this matter. Nonetheless, I have a different point of view, and I believe that such laws shall infringe on people’s expectation privacy, as well as raise concerns about safety. Report of sexual harassment or violence may be on the rise when such unsafe and inappropriate laws about transgender bathrooms are introduced. Unisex or neutral restrooms would solve the case.
Works Cited
Weinberg, Jill D. “Transgender bathroom usage: A privileging of biology and physical difference in the law.” Buff. J. Gender L. & Soc. Pol’y 18 (2009): P. 147.
Westbrook, Laurel, and Kristen Schilt. “Doing gender, determining gender: Transgender people, gender panics, and the maintenance of the sex/gender/sexuality system.” Gender & Society 28.1 (2014): P. 32-57.