Accessibility Affects Gender
The existence of two disability-accessible bathrooms, one communal and one unisex and single, brings up important questions. Why make two separate bathrooms handicapped-accessible, and what does this imply?
Creating a separate, unisex, private bathroom that is handicapped accessible follows a social norm that all disabled people need and use separate and private bathrooms. It is often a surprise to people that those with disabilities also use communal bathrooms as well. Due to this social norm, the fact that the separate bathroom is disability accessible enforces a separatist attitude toward those with disabilities. It enforces the idea that disabled people are separate from everyone else and only use the single bathrooms. This implies that they are not expected to participate in the community of a communal bathroom and are seen as “different” from the rest of the residents. However, having both communal and single bathrooms that are handicapped-accessible also provides many benefits. Some people, especially those with visible disabilities that may have changed the way their bodies look, may feel more comfortable going to the bathroom and showering in a private place. Another positive aspect is the question of gender. A unisex bathroom that is disability accessible gives individuals who do not identify with one specific gender, or are intersex individuals, a place to go. Communal bathrooms at Emory are gender-specific, and so even if they are disability-accessible, there is no space for an intersex, disabled individual or a disabled individual who does not identify with male or female. It is important to have a universally accessible space that addresses the spectrum of gender and sex.
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Although both restrooms in Longstreet-Means Hall are relatively accessible, there are different improvements that can be made to generally increase the accessibility according to gender and sex. One option is for Emory to adopt unisex communal bathrooms as well as unisex single bathrooms. This would allow for all people, no matter what their needs for accessibility are, to access all of the same bathrooms with no regard to gender. This way they could expand what is “accessible” to also include issues of gender and how that can cause barriers for those with disabilities who do not identify within the gender binary.
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