Op-Ed: Gender-Neutral Housing Apparently Too Uncomfortable to Handle

Gender-neutral housing is a more inclusive approach to campus living | Photo courtesy of AnonMoos via Wikimedia Commons

Awkward. A word that has undoubtedly been overused, and misunderstood, by our generation. It has once again reared its head in the discussion of gender-neutral housing on BU’s campus. But is it really that “awkward” to discuss the possibility of females and males living together on BU’s campus? Or is the problem simply the comfort of relying on old-fashioned ideas, which disregard the needs of a large portion of BU’s population?

After years of tossing around the idea, as well as having it gain support, BU student government officially presented an initiative for gender-neutral housing to the university administration. It would allow upperclassmen to opt for living with a member of the opposite sex. The issue has, as of now, been pushed aside indefinitely by the administration.

When I originally began my research on this issue, I looked at it strictly from a pro-LGBTQ rights standpoint, considering the diversity of the BU population. I realized that many people in this demographic are more comfortable living with someone of the opposite gender, which should be allowed without any sort of shaming or extended process. Upon further research, though, I discovered another important issue at hand.

In my research, I was discouraged to witness the reaction of a portion of the student body to the idea of gender-neutral housing. In student interviews, featured in a video on BU Today, students were filmed stating how “awkward” it would be, having gender-neutral housing on campus. The video revealed students clinging to stereotypes about the cleanliness of females, and the apparent ape-like behaviors of males. It seems to me that BU students who oppose this initiative are looking at the situation through a narrow lens.

There seems to be a common mindset among students that, because females and males are apparently so infinitely different, there is no way they could possibly live together in a comfortable, sustainable environment. Breaking news…males and females aren’t that different. Keeping with the stereotypical theme, both genders have the ability to be messy, not all girls leave “hair in the sink,” as one student said, and there wouldn’t necessarily be any more inherent sexual situations in gender-neutral housing than there are in the current housing setup. Also, contrary to popular belief, not all students living in this arrangement would be couples. In fact, this initiative was not created to cater to romantic relationships, but rather to create a supportive environment for students with unique gender and sexual identifications, according to the Campus Housing site at Lewis & Clark College, one of the many schools who has already taken the step to implement gender-neutral housing. Institutions such as Cornell, Tufts, Brown, and many others have included gender-neutral housing in their campus living options, and most all of the schools I came across emphasized that they discourage romantic partners from living together, though they cannot legally ban it.

Gender-neutral housing would be a progressive step for BU, a university that prides itself on acceptance and open-mindedness. Yet, there is still a sense of uneasiness when it comes to recognizing the diversity of our student body, and accommodating the needs of each student. In fact, there seems to be an almost puritanical aversion to this initiative. The idea of living with someone of the opposite gender automatically raises eyebrows and incurs judgment.

I must ask, why is it that both BU students and university officials are so opposed to this idea? Is it so horrible to allow people to live with whomever they choose? To apply lessons of the “real world,” a place which we are supposedly preparing for? As one blogger on the topic pointed out, “You can’t request to live in a single sex neighborhood, or to work with only girls or only guys when looking for a job, so why make dorms that way?”

I am disappointed that, as a way of opposing gender-neutral housing, students are relying on stereotypes rather than legitimate arguments against gender-neutral housing. BU is apparently unprepared to have this “awkward” discussion, and until they are, students who are uncomfortable with the current situation will  just have to sit quietly.

About Charlotte Holley

Charlotte hails from Portland, OR and Chicago, IL. She is a Journalism major, minoring in Women, Gender & Sexuality studies. She is a passionate feminist, spoken word poet, and can do a startlingly convincing baby cry.

View all posts by Charlotte Holley →

3 Comments on “Op-Ed: Gender-Neutral Housing Apparently Too Uncomfortable to Handle”

  1. I truly don’t understand any hesitance or opposition on the part of the student body or the administration. It’s not as though BU would be forcing students to live in gender neutral housing; it’s completely optional.

    I’m also disappointed that even in the original proposal, freshmen were not immediately given the opportunity to live in gender neutral housing. I think they’re the ones who arguably need that opportunity the most. LGBTQ students coming into a completely new environment, which is stressful enough to begin with, also have to worry about potentially ending up with a homophobic roommate. True, BU’s student body is progressive, but that doesn’t mean there are no instances of homophobia on campus. Also, freshmen don’t have the option to live off campus the way upperclassmen do (although not all actually can due to things like financial aid restrictions) so they should absolutely be guaranteed a safe space to live.

  2. The use of the term “opposite gender” makes me think that the author of this piece doesn’t even know the first thing about LGBTQI rights. Attacking gender essentialism does not excuse the use of language that asserts a gender binary.

    1. I get why you’re critical of that, and I agree that the article would benefit from more correct wording, but it’s also ridiculous to say that the author doesn’t know “the first thing about LGBTQI rights.” She made a very common, understandable mistake that you could point out to help her expand her awareness instead of attacking her intelligence.

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