http://www.metropolismag.com/March-2015/His-or-Hers-Designing-for-a-Post-Gender-Society/

This article talks about the shift happening in our culture regarding identity and a gender neutral workplace. Since seventies women have become more visible in the workplace. First as secretaries, and now moving up the ranks to CEO’s and more important roles in a company. However, in the technology industry men still dominate in which eighty five percent of men work for tech companies. In recent years, identity has become hazy and people are no longer only defining themselves as women or men, some people describe themselves as both or neither, society’s acceptance of this change has been gradual but now many people are pushing for the same change in the places where they work. The He for She movement along with many others are pushing towards gender equality especially since most work places are still male dominant in more ways than one. With women taking up more spaces in the places where they work, the work place is starting to evolve. The influence of hospitality is made with soft textures, carpet in offices, windows to bring in light, and more sustainable and energy efficient designs. Major fashion names in the industry are pushing towards gender equality as well. Alexander Wang, a primary women’s high fashion designer, made high end fashion coats for women with a tailored military look for that hint of masculinity in it. This displays that the women aren’t just good for sitting at home and taking care of the children, cooking and cleaning anymore. We as women can have a prominent role in any industry, even the military.

There is quite a stir of confusion with gender roles, in which many students and many people of the world are flat out refusing to be put into one certain category. On college applications students are opting out of choosing a gender and standing up to a dimorphic system of gender roles.  People today want to be who they want to be, even if no one has ever been that before.

The focus is shifting to one segment of the entire puzzle, bathrooms. Bathrooms are traditionally for women or men especially in the public sector. However, someone undergoing a sex change that might now be the opposite gender, but is technically two genders might not fit as well in either of the bathrooms. Big companies like Google have started to embrace this change and want everyone to feel equal and have a place to fit in, so they have started on the transition to gender neutral bathrooms in which anyone of any sex or even a transgender person may enter. Making everyone feel welcomed seems to be the focus in this day and age and especially in our generation.

The author mentions the American Disabilities Act as a contrast to what should be implemented in today’s society regarding gender roles. This act helped people with disabilities at the very least, many still can’t find accessible bathrooms even though this law was passed over a decade ago. With gender equality, we have to find a way to meet individual needs without leaving people out or forcing them to compromise who they are.