Exit Slip October 21: Gender.

    Today in class there was a lot of discussion about gender in Math and Physics. A few comments stood out to me. I reflected a great deal on what Jenny had shared about her experience watching the video. She felt as though the video was still too feminine, and that women were not being represented equally to how men might have been. Jaymi shared that as a woman she would want to be represented in a girly and feminine way in a video. 

    I think this brings up an interesting point. Many of the female instructors that I had in university were not stereotypical women - so to speak. Many of them had short hair, wore pantsuits, and conformed to the male-dominated culture of science. While there is certainly nothing wrong with them choosing to present themselves in whatever way they choose it makes me wonder why there was not more diversity in the types of people represented at this level. I think what Jenny was pointing out was that often women have to fit into certain boxes, and while there is nothing wrong with the women who fit neatly (I doubt these people truly exist) into societal categories, nobody should feel pressure to. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the women being presented in this way, so long as it was their choice. 

    I think that true acceptance of diversity means that anybody can choose to present any which way whenever they would like. Girls can act feminine, or masculine and so can men. If male mathematicians want to be photographed in the kitchen baking a pie they should be allowed to be presented in that way, if a woman would like to be in a kitchen, or a boardroom, or a classroom there should be space for all of the diversity that exists in all of the genders. 

    The issue of bathrooms is a largely controversial one. I went to a Catholic school where gender diversity was not largely accepted. Throughout my time in the school, there was little talk of non-binary genders or opening inclusive washrooms. Students were expected to fit into boxes and many were, as a result, marginalized. I would argue that all institutions should offer washrooms that serve the broad range of diversity that exists in the public. Some in my school community might disagree, stating Christian religious values as a reason for doing so. This raises an interesting question that I have often battled with. How does one encourage a SOGI inclusive environment when there are going to be parents and students who feel that doing so infringes upon their right to practice their religion. Do Christians and other religious groups have the right to run schools where institutional values contrast SOGI values? While it is pleasant to think about a world that is all-inclusive, achieving one is likely impossible as the inclusion of all diversities would mean serving interests that are in stark contrast and compete with one another. 

     As I left the University campus I used the LIFE building's inclusive washrooms. After hearing Jenny's story about the busty anatomically incorrect woman who was displayed on the washroom sign at her university I contrasted that with the one which existed in on our own campus. It was representative of the inclusive washroom facility to which it marked the entrance. It showed that this washroom was for no particular gender or ability. While this washroom is welcoming to everyone, and in theory does not marginalize any member of society there are still many who remain in opposition to this idea. While UBC is a rather progressive institution many of the schools in our own neighborhoods and around the globe are not. This is an uphill battle that must be fought by courageous teachers.