Human Rights at Home and Abroad: Past, Present, and Future
Human Rights at Home and Abroad: Past, Present, and Future
Human Rights at Home and Abroad: Past, Present, and Future
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Gendered Space <strong>and</strong> Restroom Availability<br />
―…There [has] never been a single instance in my life when I… walked into a public restroom-<br />
women‘s or men‘s- by habit; my entire life I have been excruci<strong>at</strong>ingly aware of any gendered space th<strong>at</strong> I<br />
enter‖ (Serano 2007). The discussion of restroom availability is often stifled, despite the fact th<strong>at</strong> it is a<br />
concern th<strong>at</strong> trans people must deal with every time they enter a public space. Gendered spaces like<br />
restrooms cre<strong>at</strong>e barriers to gender queer <strong>and</strong> trans identified people‘s safety because of the constant<br />
thre<strong>at</strong> of violence, harassment, <strong>and</strong> even police interference leading to arrest (Chess et al. 2008).<br />
Genderqueer <strong>and</strong> trans-identified folks have been <strong>at</strong>tacked in public restrooms simply<br />
because their appearance thre<strong>at</strong>ens gender norms <strong>and</strong> expect<strong>at</strong>ions. This issue of b<strong>at</strong>hroom<br />
violence is consistently delegitimized in both queer <strong>and</strong> non-queer spaces as not important or<br />
sexy enough to be a ‗real‘ issue. In many gay activist circles, there seems to be a pervasive<br />
sentiment th<strong>at</strong> no one (read: no straight people) will take us seriously if we start talking<br />
about b<strong>at</strong>hrooms. Additionally, there is a tremendous cultural shame around the violence<br />
itself- either you should have been able to protect yourself or you must have deserved it or<br />
both (Chess et al. 2008).<br />
Medicaliz<strong>at</strong>ion of Transsexuality<br />
The medicaliz<strong>at</strong>ion of transsexuality has impacted the form<strong>at</strong>ion of a transgender community. By<br />
framing transsexuality as a disorder, transsexuals are faced with the expect<strong>at</strong>ion of seeking a cure.<br />
However, the cure for transsexuality is considered to be physically becoming either a man or a woman<br />
<strong>and</strong> living under the binary system of gender th<strong>at</strong> is comfortable for our society. In therapy sessions,<br />
transsexuals are often encouraged to deny their transsexuality by cre<strong>at</strong>ing stories about their lives before<br />
their transition th<strong>at</strong> indic<strong>at</strong>e th<strong>at</strong> they have always been their current gender. ―Transsexuality is the only<br />
condition for which the therapy is to lie‖ (Bornstein, 62). Transsexuality is also the only diagnosable<br />
mental disorder th<strong>at</strong> is curable only through cosmetic surgery. Medical procedures undergone by<br />
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