A Basic Human Need. A summary of “Making Bathrooms More ‘Accommodating”.

Emir Talundzic on

In her Article, “Making Bathrooms More ‘Accommodating“, Emily Bazelon discusses the hardships that transgender people face when using public restrooms. Unlike most people who have no problem with which restroom they should use, transgender people can have the reproductive organs of the opposite sex. For example, a transgender female may have the reproductive organ of a male. As a result, some people have issues with sharing a bathroom with someone who has a reproductive organ that is different from theirs, leaving those who are transgender with the dilemma of which bathroom they should use.

Naturally, people are resistant to change and not willing to accommodate for others. To support this, Bazelon uses the example of the group of voters in Huston who were protesting against the Broad Equal Right Ordinance. The Broad Equal Right Ordinance would prevent against many types of discrimination, but most importantly, sexual discrimination. The voters responded by using examples of males harassing females which put fear into the rest of the voting pool and resulted in the ordinance being rejected. (Bazelon).

On the contrary, Bazelon uses the example of school districts that are becoming more accepting of those who are transgender. These schools are calling transgender people by their preferred names, and allowing them to participate in sports as the gender they identify themselves as. (Bazelon). However, the issue of transgender people sharing bathrooms with the sex they identify with still remains. For example, Bazelon uses the example of a girl who is undergoing hormonal therapy and wishes to use the girls bathroom. The school originally refused, stating that the girl would be violating other girls privacy.(Bazelon). However, this argument is has major fallacies, since the girl who was transgender could have easily been provided with a curtain or changing room, just like the other girls. Eventually, after government intervention, the girl was allowed to share the changing room with the other girls, provided she used a privacy curtain when changing.

PatientPrivacyCurtainsandTracks_a
Example of a privacy curtain. Image used from NewMatic Medical.

This is what Bazelon refers to as “accommodating”, or the act of “moving over to make room for other people, whether you want to or not.” (Bazelon). She uses examples of how the government previously made accommodations for people because of religious reasons or disabilities. However, Bazelon argues that even if accommodations were made, people would have to be willing to work with the change. Otherwise, eradicating the issues of bathrooms for those who are transgender would have little effect if people did not learn to respect it.

This all stems from the 19th century when bathrooms were divided for logical reasons. During the 19th century, having separate bathrooms and rooms made sense because of the conditions. (Bazelon). However, this is no longer the 19th century, and the same rules apply. Bazelon explains that the most important thing for a transgender person is to fit in. To put this in perspective, Bazelon states, “for transgender girls, the locker room and the bathroom are about joining the all-female enclave, about fitting in.” The issue that remains is that people do not wish to accept the identity that a transgender person identifies themselves as. In order to solve this, small accommodations would need to be made so that those who are transgender would be able to freely exercise the basic human need of using the restroom.

Bibliography

“Making Bathrooms More ‘Accommodating’ – The New York Times.” N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Mar. 2016.

130 thoughts on “A Basic Human Need. A summary of “Making Bathrooms More ‘Accommodating”.”

  1. This site is an Amazon affiliate selling baby products. For your convenience, our team of experts is currently evaluating and contrasting several types of nuna convertible car seats. You can get the most up-to-date and feature-rich models of nuna convertible car seats. Products reasonably priced and complete in every critical respect can be found here. We value your opinions and will respond to any questions or concerns you may have about available seats. To learn more about us, explore our website right now.
    Visit our website: nuna rava for newborn

    Reply

  2. All I Need is My Ball is a fun story about a young boy and his basketball books for kids. Kids and adults alike will enjoy experiencing the pure joy that playing ball can bring to a child. In a world of overstimulation, this book reminds us of a few of life’s simplest gifts through the story of a boy, a ball, and his imagination.

    Reply

  7. The Dutch (Hunger Winter Book) of 1944-1945 had profound and long-lasting effects on the Dutch population. The famine resulted from various factors, such as the Nazi blockade of food and fuel, a harsh winter, and a failed Allied operation. The effects of the famine were devastating, with an estimated 22,000 to 30,000 people losing their lives due to malnutrition, disease, and harsh conditions. In addition to the immediate impact on the population, the famine had long-term effects on health, the economy, and culture.

    Reply

  8. Are you tired of searching for Psychiatrist Milford Ct? There’s no need to worry. Depression MD has got you covered. We have trained professionals who can provide you with tailored support from the comfort of your home. We understand that mental and physical challenges can prevent you from performing mundane tasks. This is why our professionals offer solutions enabling you to live life to its fullest. We at Depression MD prioritize the comfort of our clients over everything else. This is why we offer you a wide range of therapy solutions that fit your mental and physical needs. Visit:ketamine therapy ct

    Reply

  10. Break engagement
    barriers
    Engage using Whats App and improve response rates over email, SMS and in-app messaging and campaigning. A better way to upscale Upscale with multiple users on one single number and get a better return on investment than alternative Whats App BSPs. Multiple channels in one Nurture leads from Facebook and Instagram and increase ROI 10x by funneling your leads to Whats App. use witi coupons and get up to 80% discount.

    Reply

  11. I am really very happy to visit your blog. Now I am found what I actually want. Thanks a lot for sharing a piece of wonderful information which I am looking for for a longer period of time.
    miranda-cosgrove-phone
    ROHIT

    Reply

  18. Transgender individuals may have reproductive organs among us that do not align with the traditional binary understanding of male and female, which can make using public restrooms a source of concern for both them and others.

    Reply

  19. Hello! Thank you for sharing such fascinating content. We truly appreciate your efforts in providing us with such interesting stuff. We hope you will continue to share more of this type of captivating content. Keep up the great work!
    925 Wholesale Jewelry

    Reply

  26. Solarplexius Gutscheincode is your passport to cost-effective, innovative vehicle sun protection. With this discount code, you can transform your car’s windows into sleek, customizable sunshades. Enjoy enhanced privacy and heat reduction without compromising your view. Solarplexius Gutscheincode offers a stylish and practical solution for sunny drives while saving you money.

    Reply

  28. The article explores the concept of enhancing bathrooms to better accommodate the needs of a diverse range of individuals. It likely delves into the importance of making restrooms more inclusive and accessible for people of different ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
    abogado dui mecklenburg va

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *