Gender Segregation
When asked to consider discrimination, many people would automatically think of
segregation by race. However, one of the largest sources of discrimination around the world is on
the basis of gender. Although the widely accepted process is given little thought on a daily basis,
it calls into question fundamental ethical principles, however the battle for gender equality has
created an opportunity for change. Due to the blending of gender roles and increased support of
equality between genders that has arisen over the last few decades, people 100 years from now
are most likely to look back and wonder how we ever tolerated the segregation of genders.
Gender segregation is prominent all around our daily lives and yet we pay very little
attention to it. While the separation of bathrooms into boys and girls seems perfectly natural,
even this long-standing tradition of segregation can cause fundamental issues. Recently, a
transgender boy undergoing hormone treatment sued Township High School District 211 in
Chicago because they refused to let him use the girl’s locker room (Miller 4). When the school
upheld its rules, the Obama administration put pressure on the school in support of the boy,
insisting that this was a basic civil right. The school justified their actions by providing a facility
for him to use separate from both the boys and girls locker rooms. However, does this mean that
the school will provide separate rooms for all genders that are not strictly male or female?
Additionally, would this, and by extension all gender segregation, not call into question the same
“separate but equal” principles ruled unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education over 50
years ago, just on the basis of gender rather than race? Discrimination, whether by skin color or
gender, is an impractical and unethical process that calls for a better solution.
The segregation of genders feels like an unnecessary process, as there is no real cause
other than the stigma society places on combining opposite genders in private areas. Still, the
very idea of separating sexes is an outdated practice established by an age of patriarchy that does
not accurately reflect the progressive ideals of the modern day or the shift in moral principles as
gender fluidity increases and the strict wall between sexes slowly breaks down. Furthermore, if
society is eager for equality between all sexes, as shown by the widely popular feminist
movement, then what is the purpose of discriminating between facilities on the basis of gender?
It is extremely difficult to imagine a world that believes in the equality of all people, yet
discriminates them for uncontrollable factors.
Despite it being an impractical and seemingly unethical system, there are several reasons
why one might justify the segregation of genders in facilities. First and possibly most prominent,
many people would find combined private facilities, such as bathrooms or locker rooms, as an
invasion of privacy. Additionally, this type of system creates the potential for one gender to
harass the other gender. However, this argument completely dismisses the idea of equality
between sexes and fails to acknowledge the fact that men are equally as capable of harassing
other men in the current system as they would be capable of harassing women, and visa versa.
The increasing acceptance of the LGBT community makes the possibility for even sexual
harassment an equal concern between all genders, and it is therefore not an issue that can be
solved through the segregation of genders. Rather, combining facilities could help decrease
harassment, as more people would be capable of stepping in when a situation gets out of hand.
Evidence of change in moral principles and social standards is evident all around us in
the modern day, whether it be the improved acceptance and pride of the LGBT community, or
the prominence and influence of the feminist movement. Today’s society is far more willing to
accept social change than it was in the past, and there are several options to accomplish it. While
it might be possible to change laws on the state or county level through petitions and movements,
the influence of the federal government stretches beyond the restrictions of federalism as
demonstrated in the first example, and the possibility for a change in presidential platform if the
office switches parties is very high. However, the civil rights issue can be attacked on the federal
level by contacting state representatives to state your position and argue for change, or by
creating interest groups to raise awareness in the public and support lobbying in Congress for
new legislation. Despite the long-standing tradition and protection of this unethical practice,
gender segregation can be eradicated through our efforts. The world is ready for change if we are
willing to fight for it.
Works Cited
Miller, Michael. "Feds Say Illinois School District Broke Law by Banning Transgender Student
from Girls’ Locker Room." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2015. Web.
12 Nov. 2015.