5. Male/female binaries?

There is a huge difference between addressing the needs for those who reject the binaries of male/female and raising awareness for it. At first, when I saw this question, I was ready to answer, “Yes, educational institutes do address this.” However, I mixed up the idea of teaching about non-binary individuals and actually doing something for these people. At many universities, there are countless classes which explain that there are not just two genders, and that not everyone conforms to the masculine and feminine identity. They may discuss the struggles these people face every day, and how there are specific pronouns that we can use if the individual identifies with them. Despite this, why are there mostly just two types of bathrooms available on campus – male and female? There are some places with single unit, unisex bathrooms, but that is not the norm. Also, there are very few universities which provide housing for non-binary people. Are there options on applications which ask if a person is comfortable housing with a specific gender? Do the majority of school applications and questionnaires provide a pronoun option that is not limited to he/she/him/her? The reason why these things happen is because although there is a budding awareness across the nation, it is not considered the norm, and thus is not as prevalent as it should be. Society has been divided between girls vs. boys, whereas those options are limited and close-minded.

To me it has always been unnatural to view male and female as strict binaries. To me the concept of Yin and Yang is much closer to how we are as humans: a combination of both. Fluidity of gender has existed throughout human history; the Judeo Christian traditions have a more rigid view of gender, partly due to procreation, but also to the need for control. It is hard for institutions of educations to fully and effectively address the needs of people who do not believe in strict categories of gender because our society has for so long insisted on a non-fluid concept of gender with very specific characteristics assigned to each one. We are taught to assume certain behaviors and attitudes to assert our femininity or masculinity. According to Michael Kimmel men in particular are under scrutiny all the time, and that they are being assessed, by other men, as to whether they are male enough. Education serves many purposes, but one of its main goals is to prepare children to be participants in our society and culture. Until male dominance is dismantled, education institutions will propagate the values of that culture, even when some departments and disciplines work towards changing perspectives. We are in an transition era of significant cultural transformations, and education institutions, like the greater society in which they reside and which they support, will change gradually, and not all at once. Therefore, their ability to help those who have a concept of gender fluidity will be only partial, at least for near future. Still, change is happening, and as long as there are people willing to explore and share ideas, change will continue towards a reality that is defined as less rigid, more open, less constraint, and more diverse. Just don’t underestimate the force of resistance; it can be mighty and ruthless.