Face Off: Should schools in Hong Kong install gender-neutral toilets?
- Each week, two of our readers debate a hot topic in a showdown that doesn’t necessarily reflect their personal viewpoints
- In this edition, students discuss whether inclusive restrooms would help transgender and non-binary pupils
Many LGBT advocates argue that having gender inclusive toilets would help trans and non-binary teens. Photo: TNSIf you are interested in joining future Face Off debates, fill out this form to submit your application.
For: All-gender toilets show respect to people of all genders
Valerie Chiu, 12, St Mary’s Canossian College
Gender-neutral toilets show respect to people of all genders and all walks of life. They provide a safe, private facility for transgender and gender-nonconforming people. It also benefits families with children. Everyone has the right to conveniently use the toilet.
These inclusive facilities address concerns of transgender people who face intimidation and harassment in gender-segregated restrooms because others sometimes perceive they are in the wrong toilet.
According to the 2019 LGBTQ Teen Study of US youth aged 13 to 17, 36 per cent of transgender or gender non-binary students with restricted bathroom or locker room access reported being sexually assaulted in the past year. This proves that rejecting gender-neutral bathrooms can be detrimental to non-binary or transgender people. Those who argue that gender-neutral restrooms will increase sexual assault do not realise the dangers that trans and non-binary people already face in gender-segregated restrooms.
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A Chinese University survey of transgender people in Hong Kong published in 2021 found that 24.3 per cent of respondents reported being verbally assaulted when using a public toilet. Having gender-neutral restrooms could reduce these issues.
Meanwhile, gender-neutral toilets can lower the wait time for female students, who often face long queues to use the restroom.
Hong Kong’s LGBTQ youth were interviewed by the Hong Kong Institute of Education in 2015, which found that these students experienced bullying because of their sexuality or gender. Teenagers are under so much pressure already, and they may find dealing with sexuality a heavy burden, especially without external support. Inclusive bathrooms can help transgender pupils avoid judgment from their peers, and this can lift a gigantic burden from their shoulders.
Everyone can have a less stressful school life with gender-neutral toilets, which reduce discrimination and bullying. This creates a better future for our city – unity is strength.
Against: Gender-neutral restrooms make users targets of abuse
Teresa Kwok, 17, South Island School
Recently, there have been more conversations about gender-neutral toilets in schools. LGBT groups argue gender-neutral toilets in Hong Kong schools would support LGBT students and recognise non-binary gender identities. However, there are other issues to consider.
In a society that is still hostile to trans and non-binary people, gender-neutral toilets could make users targets of abuse. A 2021 survey of transgender Hongkongers by Chinese University, found 76 per cent of respondents reported facing rejection in their lifetime.
When the University of Hong Kong set up its first all-gender toilet in 2016, Joanne Leung, chair of LGBT group Pink Alliance, told Hong Kong Free Press that people who were not openly trans might be reluctant to use the toilets as it might draw attention.
Currently, many Hong Kong schools do not even allow students assigned male at birth to grow their hair long. Before they install gender-neutral toilets, they must first better educate administrators and students about LGBT issues to reduce the chances of bullying.
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Gender-neutral toilets could also give more opportunities for certain students to sexually harass people of other genders. For example, in 2018, a boy from a Hong Kong secondary school pleaded guilty to using hidden cameras to record girls changing. Allowing students of all genders to use the same restroom could make it tougher for teachers to stop incidents like this. This could lead to mental health problems for the victims.
Moreover, gender-neutral toilets could lead to discomfort for some students. According to a 2019 article from Edinburgh Evening News, parents reported that their “daughters, including some who had started their periods, were now embarrassed to use the facilities at Mayfield Primary” after the school installed gender-neutral toilets. Furthermore, conservative adherents of some religions may not support having gender-neutral toilets.
Supporting gender diversity is crucial, but Hong Kong schools must consider other issues before installing gender-neutral toilets.