At university
Birgit Schreiber is senior director of student affairs at Stellenbosch University.
“At Stellenbosch University, genderneutral bathrooms are now an addition for all the bathrooms and toilets where the opportunity offers itself. When bathrooms are revamped or remodelled, especially in the residences, student hubs, clusters and student communities, we offer a range of choices so that gender neutrality is supported and gender binaries are challenged.”
Schreiber says the university’s student representative council motivated for an additional category when students enter details about themselves. As of 2017, students and staff can chose to identify themselves in gender-neutral ways by choosing Mx as a gender category in the administrative system.
“This is not only very important for assessment situations, but also in general in terms of creating awareness for newly arriving students that Stellenbosch University is supporting the range of expressions around gender,” says Schreiber.
In a February 2015 interview with The Daily Vox, Wits University student Mongezi Mkhondo, a transgender woman, spoke of the challenges she faced living in an all-male residence.
“I live in a male res and it’s really hard. I don’t usually get dressed as a woman while at res because I don’t really want to attract any attention. I don’t want people to get confused and ask why a girl is living at a male res, so I stay away from that as much as possible. I don’t want to confuse or trigger reactions from people. I don’t want them to do something to me next time.”
Tish White, the programme co-ordinator of the Wits Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advocacy programmes, describes two core programmes, Safe Zones@Wits and Wits Pride, initiated in 2008 and 2011 respectively.
“Each furthers the specific objectives of creating and growing supportive networks for LGBTIAQ+ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual, queer and other] folk and sharing information, resources and details of safe community spaces.”
The programmes provide platforms for those in the university community to share their experiences, research and initiatives, says White, adding that the university works closely with organisations such as Activate Wits to ensure its programmes provide tangible support.
“For example, we now have 33 gender-neutral toilet facilities across our campuses.”
Schreiber adds: “Some of what we are struggling with, much like all HEIs, is that we are embedded into a violent, patriarchal and sexist society and we only have a short window of opportunity to challenge the thinking of our students …
“In my experience, the universities, certainly Stellenbosch University, is keenly invested in challenging the culturally entrenched notions on gender and women.”
Not so, says Visser. “When I was living in that residence, there was nowhere on campus I could go for help; for support.”
Johan van Zyl, North-West University’s communications officer, says: “Apart from our human rights committee, structures within the respective residences as well as the office of the dean of students can also be used to report any violation of human rights, from where it is escalated to the next level. Various student societies exist on our campuses, assisting the university in promoting and protecting the rights of all individuals.”
Visser counters: “They might be trying to promote human rights but there is still nowhere you feel really safe to go as a queer person.
“Going through all of that has ultimately made me stronger. But there is this level of angst and insecurity I still have because of all of it. That kind of thing … it’s not something you come through unscathed.”