Singapore debates gender neutral toilets amid backlash against ‘woke’ washrooms at Suntec
[ad_1]
Wikimania 2023 is an annual conference associated with the Wikimedia Foundation, an American non-profit body best known for the online resource Wikipedia.
The organisation advocates an inclusive approach to minority groups in society.
On the event website, it states that besides modifications to the toilets, other inclusive measures include making the room scent-free for individuals with sensitivities or allergies to scents, designated staff members and volunteers to help participants, and a quiet room that is made available to anyone who may need it.
Reporters visited Suntec’s convention centre on Wednesday and found that the gender-neutral toilets were in a converted women’s restroom with 11 cubicles, located on the third floor.
The question of gender-neutral toilets has been a hot-button issue around the world, although it is now relatively common in some countries to find individual toilets marked with both a female and male symbol that are available to anyone.
Often, these individual toilets are not contained within a room housing a set of toilets but are accessed directly from outside.
One place where the issue of gender-neutral toilets has provoked a heated public debate is Britain.
In July last year, The Guardian newspaper reported that the UK government was requiring all new offices, schools, hospitals and entertainment venues to have separate male and female lavatories.
Citing government sources, the newspaper reported that the move was designed to curb the sole installation of gender-neutral facilities.
Separately, the BBC reported that the government announcement drew a distinction between gender-neutral toilets – which have shared waiting and handwashing facilities along with a number of cubicles – and unisex toilets, which are single, stand-alone facilities used by both genders.
Trans rights groups in the UK at the time argued that gender-neutral toilets protect trans people and non-binary persons from discrimination, as they can face intrusive challenges when using male or female toilets.
In a discussion thread about the toilets on the HardwareZone online forum, a user going by the name of “dushensiao” said Suntec was “going woke”.
Another user named “Uncle Lorger” wrote: “Wah, really in Suntec? Wonder if those perverts will go in.”
“There’re only two genders, male and female. There is no in-between,” wrote another user named “focus1974”.
Members of a Facebook group called “We are against Pinkdot in Singapore” responded to the photograph by calling for a boycott of Suntec City.
One by the name of “Siti Hannah” wrote: “Apparently it is true. Are there any petitions for us to vote to take this down? Why is Singapore doing this? I fear for my children’s future.”
Another going by the name “Nadia Natasha Rasid” wrote: “This is just the beginning. Shocking that this minority can be so pervasive in getting their agenda adhered to.”
Passers-by shared their opinions about the toilets during a visit to Suntec last week.
Koh Ming Sheng, 22, a Nanyang Technological University student said: “It’s inclusive and it’s a good step.” However, he voiced concerns about the safety of having a restroom that openly serves all genders.
“I don’t know if it’s safe,” he said, adding that it might attract sex-related crime activity such as the installation of hidden cameras to spy on users.
Multiple studies have shown that there is no increased risk of sex crimes in gender-neutral toilets
PinkDot SG, an advocacy group for the LGBTQ community, said the belief that gender-neutral toilets were more likely to cause sex-related crime was a misperception.
“Multiple studies have shown that there is no increased risk of sex crimes in gender-neutral toilets. That being said, it is important to take steps to prevent harassment of any kind from happening in restrooms, including gender-neutral toilets,” it said in a statement.
“This may include providing adequate security and training staff on how to handle reports of sexual misconduct or gender-based harassment or violence.”
Given the choice between male or gender-neutral toilets, Koh said that he would stick to male toilets. “I don’t mind using it if there’s one and if it’s urgent, [but] I’d rather let those who need it use it.”
Alex Ong, 37, said it was his first time seeing a gender-neutral toilet, but thought it was “a good step” and, in a practical sense, saves space when building toilets.
PinkDot SG said that gender-neutral toilets help to provide a safe space for those who need it.
“LGBTQ+ people, particularly gender nonconforming individuals, may be subjected to verbal abuse, physical assault or other forms of discrimination in traditional gender-segregated toilets,” it said in a statement.
“A gender-neutral toilet signals that everyone is welcome to use the space and protects the safety and dignity of gender nonconforming individuals.”
It also said that any fears that this trend would mean an end to traditional male and female toilets were unfounded.
“We understand that this is a particularly sensitive issue. Phasing out traditional washrooms shouldn’t be the goal here and is probably not entirely practical in the near term,” it said.
“What we should be asking is: how can we ensure everyone has access to a comfortable, safe and inclusive environment for something as fundamental as using the bathroom.”
Rather than having only one type of restroom, Pink Dot SG stated that having the option and availability of both gender-neutral and gender-segregated toilets is the goal. “This would allow people to choose the restroom that is the safest and most comfortable for them.”
It’s an issue of accessing public facilities in order to fulfil a basic bodily function
Leow Yangfa, executive director of non-profit LGBTQ group Oogachaga, said having a gender-neutral toilet ensures a safe space for people whose gender expression does not align with societal norms.
Leow said this could be a man with long hair and make-up, or a woman with short hair and wearing gender-neutral clothing, for example.
“This may or may not have to do with their sexual orientation, but it’s more about how others assume their gender based on how they look,” he said.
Leow said it might be helpful to reframe the perspective that gender-neutral toilets are only “important” to members of the LGBTQ community. Gender-neutral toilets are useful to people outside the LGBTQ community as well, he said.
Gender-neutral toilets can be used by many groups of people, including trans and gender-diverse people, the elderly, parents with young children, wheelchair users and other people with disabilities.
“This is to avoid the popular misconception that ‘LGBTQ+ people are looking for special treatment’,” Leow said. “We are not. It’s an issue of accessing public facilities in order to fulfil a basic bodily function.”
[ad_2]
Source_link
Post Publications || Join us on Whatsapp || Post Disclaimer
SEND A STORY: Do you have a story for us or need a promotion/advertisement? Submit them via our email admin@edulearnweb or Ghanaeducation.org
TELEGRAM PAGE >>> [JOIN]
DOWNLOAD OUR EDUCATION NEWS APP - MOBILE APP
JOIN OUR EDUCATION NEW GROUPS (WHATSAPP)
Join one of our Whatsapp/Telegram Groups for current Ghana Education Service News Updates:
JOIN ONLY ONE... THANKS
TELEGRAM PAGE >>> [JOIN]
Group 1 >>New Group> [JOIN]
Group 2 >>New Group> [JOIN]
TELEGRAM PAGE >>> [JOIN]
Only websites that give us a URL backlink can repost our content on their sites.
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by edulearnweb.com and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.
||About Us|| Contact Us