People that identify with a gender identity that is different from what they had been assigned at birth are referred to as transgender. Transgender people have always faced challenges when it comes to the public perception of their gender identity, hence prompting the need to safeguard vulnerable populations from physical and psychological harm. Transgender men and women that are either old or from vulnerable communities are most likely to fall prey to sex predators as well as different opinions within diverse age groups. Younger generations are mostly affected especially by discrimination, as it affects their psychology, thus resulting in suicide (Meyer, 2007). The opposition to using public restrooms has been driven by diverse opinions from different age groups that have prompted the need to enhance inclusivity, acceptability, and equality.
Transgender men and women have witnessed discrimination when it comes to using public bathrooms, which goes to the extreme of denying them access to the public facilities. This incidence is often a leading factor in distress and depression among the transgender community (Anthony & Dufresne, 2007). However, several activists and authors have called for inclusivity in public restrooms regardless of gender identity and assigned sex (Herman, 2013). These advocates of the rights of the transgender community also call for public toilets to ensure and enhance the privacy and safety of transgender men and women (Seelman, 2016).
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Literature Review
Transgender refers to individuals whose gender identity does not correspond to birth-assigned sex. Over the years, the United States has engaged in debates as to whether transgenders should be given consent to share public bathrooms (including changing rooms), as per gender identity expression or biological sex. The chronicle of bathroom discrimination dates back to 2016 when California adopted the first law prohibiting transgender access to a public restroom. The law referred to as the “bathroom bill”, restricted a transgender student’s right to share bathrooms due to issues of safety, sanitation, and the notion of gender identity. Later on, the Obama administration issued a directive to all institutions under the federal government to permit transgender students to use the restrooms that suit their gender identities. Following that, a series of court battles ensued from the Departments of Education and Justice since identity falls under gender civil rights covered by Title IX. Proponents of the bill identified the need to safeguard older and vulnerable populations from transgender sex predators; attracting divergent views within the different age group. According to Meyer (2007), the minority stress model affirms that a series of repeated discrimination negatively impacts the psychology of the young generation. Therefore, the interpersonal victimization of younger people can result in suicidal attempts when their perceptions are not considered. Opposition of transgender identity and the use of public bathrooms has led to different opinion's among age groups, thus creating the need to provide inclusiveness and enhance acceptability and equality.
Anthony and Dufresne (2007) explain the distress faced by transgender people as a result of discrimination and denial to access the public restroom facilities. The study emphasizes the sexual harassment of denial of access to public restrooms.
Chang and Chung (2015) disagree with the patriarch ideology and proponents of law by criticizing the notion that public restrooms should be built based on the identity of biological sex. The authors further claim that such ideology is ancient and fails to observe gender transition based on one’s personality. The authors empower younger generations by highlighting transgender rights, social belief on sexuality, and gender litigation of transgender people by assigned sex and gender identity. Finally, the authors emphasize the need to have segregated public restrooms for multi-user facilities.
Herman (2013) posits a different view, revealing the incidences faced by transgenders that incite the need for bathroom standardization, and the transgender stress on the young and minority populations. Herman (2013) mentions the conditions implicated by the bathroom ban laws and legislation that disregard gender identity based on appearance or sexual orientation. Secondly, he uses incidences of physical harassment and percentage of access denial variables to display negative impacts and experiences of transgender minorities as well as youth. Moreover, public restrooms should be inclusive irrespective of gender identity and assigned sex. In support of contemporary law, Seelman (2016) supports the young individuals, arguing that public restrooms should be inclusive but ensure the privacy and safety of the transgender college.
Watkins and Moreno (2017) the patriarch proponents to oppose the gender-neutral restroom, implying that the court’s rulings are in better position to review the policy of transgender use of the restrooms. It further extends to explain the role of state laws for individual rights. On the contrary, Wernick, Kulick and Chins’ (2017) study draws its focus on how some identities are perceived illegitimate, while others are not. The purpose of the article is to foster an understanding of the bias that exists in high school students’ restrooms brought about by the differences in sexual gender and orientation. The authors cover contentious issues affecting students of all gender identities across the college, for example, the ideology of female students having private cubicles and male students having communal urinals, to include transgender rights in high school.
Hypothesis
White males between the ages 50 and 57 in New York are more likely to oppose gender-neutral bathrooms than white males under 49 years old in New York City.
Conceptual and Operational Definitions (Measurements), Variables
Based on the conceptual framework of this study, the independent variable will be the use of gender-neutral bathrooms, which will be supported by safety, perceived wellbeing, and self-esteem as dependent variables. The age demographic will be used as a moderating variable. The measurements in this study will incorporate security, perceived wellbeing, and self-esteem of members of the transgender community.
Methodology
a) Mode of Observation
This research will make use of a mixed method research methodology. The methodology will involve both qualitative and quantitative data analysis, whereby a survey will be conducted as well as focus groups as a means of collecting data. The survey will be used to maximize representation by avoiding bias in the research through equal representation of groups involved in the study. On the other hand, focus groups will be used as a means of interpreting the different perception on the topic of gender-neutral bathrooms as per the ongoing public debate on the same.
b) Time Design
Similarly, the research will be conducted over six months. This period will provide the adequate time needed for the collection of data. Data will be collected in stages, whereby different perceptions will be collected at each stage. The reason for the separation of the study into phases is to obtain adequate data based on the influence introduced at every level.
c) Sampling Type and Method
The sampling method to be employed is stratified sampling, in which the population is divided into two similar ground based on the age demographic (Weinhardt et al., 2017). For every stratum, a sample will be recruited. One stratum will contain members who are white males that dwell in New York City and are 50-57 years old, while the second strata will contain males living in New York City that are under 49 years old. Random sampling will be used to identify a sample from each stratum (Setia, 2016).
Ethics
Ethical considerations form a vital part of research as it ensures that a study meets its moral obligations and that the rights of the participants are protected. Ethics in research assure participants of their safety and protection as they take part in the study. Various ethical issues will be addressed in this study including anonymity, confidentiality, and privacy of data, informed consent, and data falsification.
Anonymity, confidentiality, and privacy of data are among the primary considerations that research participants look into before participating in any study (Sng, Yip & Han, 2016). These conversations serve as a reassurance to the patients that their identity will remain anonymous and that information collected will solely be used for the research. This study seeks to uphold anonymity, confidentiality, and privacy of data by according the participants with the utmost respect and ensuring that their names are only represented by assigned letters instead of their actual names.
The issue of informed consent is another vital aspect when it comes to ethical considerations in research. All participants need to approve of their willingness to participate in the study (Sng, Yip & Han, 2016). Informed consent is achieved once all the facts concerning the study have been laid out and all information on procedures stipulated to the participants. This study will ensure informed consent by informing the participants on all aspects of the research before their participation.
Another ethical consideration to consider is data falsification. Once the research has been conducted, all the data presented as rest should be factual and not falsified in any way. Data falsification occurs in the event of data manipulation and fabrication, which questions the credibility of the research (Sng, Yip & Han, 2016). This study will uphold data credibility by providing only credible information that is as a result of the study conducted.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this study will seek to prove the hypothesis that white males aged between 50-57 years are more likely to oppose gender-neutral bathrooms as compared to those aged 49 years and below. The study will incorporate mixed methodology while sampling through a stratified sample method. Ethics will be upheld throughout the research to protect both the participants and the researchers.
References
Anthony, K., & Dufresne, M. (2007). Potty parity in perspective: Gender and family issues in planning and designing public restrooms. Journal Of Planning Literature , 21 (3), 267-294.
Chang, T. K., & Chung, Y. B. (2015). Transgender microaggressions: Complexity of the heterogeneity of transgender identities. Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling , 9 (3), 217-234.
Herman, J. (2013). Gendered restrooms and minority stress: The public regulation of gender and its impact on transgender people's lives. Journal Of Public Management & Social Policy , 19 (1), 65.
Meyer, I. (2007). Prejudice and discrimination as social stressors. In The health of sexual minorities. (pp. 242-267). Boston, MA: Springer.
Seelman, K. (2016). Transgender adults’ access to college bathrooms and housing and the relationship to suicidality. Journal Of Homosexuality , 63 (10), 1378-1399.
Setia, M. (2016). Methodology series module 5: Sampling strategies. Indian Journal Of Dermatology , 61 (5), 505. doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.190118
Sng, B., Yip, C., & Han, N. (2016). Legal and ethical issues in research. Indian Journal Of Anaesthesia , 60 (9), 684. doi: 10.4103/0019-5049.190627
Watkins, P. J., & Moreno, E. (2017). Bathrooms without Borders: Transgender Students ArgueSeparate is not equal. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues, and Ideas , 90 (5-6), 166-171. https://doi.org/10.1080/00098655.2017.1361285
Wernick, L. J., Kulick, A., & Chin, M. (2017). Gender identity disparities in bathroom safety and wellbeing among high school students. Journal of Youth and Adolescence , 46 (5), 917-930.
Weinhardt, L., Stevens, P., Xie, H., Wesp, L., John, S., & Apchemengich, I. et al. (2017). Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Youths' Public Facilities Use and Psychological Well-Being: A Mixed-Method Study. Transgender Health , 2 (1), 140-150. doi: 10.1089/trgh.2017.0020
