We are NOT just indulging our children
Parents of primary school transgender youngsters:
PARENTS of transgender children in primary schools are against gender-neutral toilets as it marks them out as being ‘different’ from other children, a study has revealed.
While there has been a move nationally to introduce gender-neutral toilets – backed by Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone – some parents argued that while seen as ‘progressive’ and ‘trendy’, it can be upsetting for their children.
The first study of its kind in Ireland has examined the views of parents and teachers of trans or gender-nonconforming children.
The parents of 11 children, aged between five and 12, as well as seven primary school educators, were interviewed for the study. It found most parents felt ‘judged’ for ‘indulging’ their children, who identified as another gender.
One said she felt the principal of her child’s school was proclaiming that having gender-neutral toilets was ‘progressive and really quite trendy’ and that this felt like ‘a boxticking exercise with no awareness that we are still stereotyping and placing children in boxes’.
The report found that there was a diversity of approaches to toilet facilities across the schools, and some parents talked about how gender-segregated toilets caused much upset for their children.
Some were given access to individual ‘ability-adapted toilets’, which they felt was unsatisfactory.
‘I don’t want him to have a special toilet… He doesn’t want to stand out,’ said one parent. Parents argued that such changes were no guarantee of a change in wider gender practices across the school system. While universities across the country have been in a rush to introduce gender-neutral toilets, some believe it is a token gesture.
University of Limerick emeritus sociology professor Pat O’Connor said the move towards gender-neutral facilities is a ‘soft measure and is only paying lip service to real equality. They’re avoiding the real problem,’ she said.
The study, entitled Exploring Gender Identity and Gender Norms in Primary Schools, was conducted by Dr Aoife Neary of the School of Education at the University of Limerick, and Catherine Cross, education and family support officer with Transgender Equality Network Ireland (Teni).
‘My son doesn’t want to stand out’