Making Roommate Assignments Less Sexy (or Gender-y)

[MadelineB]

Making Roommate Assignments Less Sexy (or Gender-y)
Josh A. Goodman
recent graduate from Whitman College
Posted: 08/02/2012 5:34 pm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-a-goodman/college-dorms-same-sex-housing_b_1727013.html

Though separating students by gender and sex sounds benign enough, same-gender only housing policies perpetuate problematic gender and sex norms and cause discomfort for some students. A handful of colleges, such as U.C. Berkeley and Penn, offer gender- and sex-neutral housing to incoming students, and over 50 offer it to upperclass students. Students at other schools would benefit if their colleges followed suit; here's why:

1. Same-gender only housing is heteronormative
....
2. Gender-neutral housing offers a safe option to students outside traditional gender and sex boxes

All students deserve a safe living environment in which they feel comfortable. For intersex, genderqueer and transgender students, gender- and sex-neutral housing (complete with gender-neutral bathrooms) can provide that safe option.

3. Gender-neutral housing makes gender less significant
...
Some people who choose gender- and sex-neutral housing are intrigued, others are open-minded, and a few need the option to feel comfortable and safe in their own room.

Then again, it might simply be nice to get a roommate assignment based on shared interests, a common sleeping pattern, or something else besides genitalia.