<p>I have a male roommate. I don’t find it awkward at all and plan to live with him again next semester. It really depends much more on the personality than on gender.</p>
<p>I don’t mind. Generally speaking, I know there are some exceptions- girls are cleaner than most guys and they’re more responsible! AKA Great roommates. Glad we’re moving in this direction.</p>
<p>The GSA at my school is trying to create gender neutral housing… Part of their reasoning for it is that it will eliminate people making judgments on others’ sexualities based on where they live (because we currently have an all-female dorm, and the stereotype, according to the GSA but no one else, is that the girls who live there are all lesbians). But I think they’re wrong: it’s just going to change from “she lives in the all-girls dorm, so she’s a lesbian” to “she has a female roommate, so she’s a lesbian”.</p>
<p>But I support it, as long as there are options for single-gender halls so I don’t have to share a bathroom with 20 guys. <em>shudder</em></p>
<p>Hey, at least we don’t leave our stuff all over the bathroom. Sure, we might leave a seat up once every few hours, but is that really as bad? :D</p>
<p>I think the case for gender neutral housing is largely based on those who are transgender or in the process of a sex change. There is a blurry line as to what is “male” and what is “female,” and some make the case that there are five different genders. Having gender neutral housing would make those who are transgender (legally a different sex from the sex with which they identify) and those undergoing sex change more comfortable. That way, if they identify more with male, they can live as a male and not be forced into an all girls dorm (and vice versa). It’s more about being sensitive to the needs of a whole sub-population of a university. It’s really the right thing to do. I know that if I identified as a male and were forced to live in an all girls dorm, I’d feel pretty overlooked by those making housing decisions. By having fully gender neutral housing where there’s no segregation of those who are transgendered and such and people of all sexes can live together, there is no discrimination of any one group. That way, there would be few, if any, assumptions made based on the gender of one’s hall or roommate. It’s quite a nice system.</p>
<p>Yes, gender neutral housing would decrease gender-based discrimination, but it’s really more necessary to make everyone feel comfortable.</p>
<p>I’ll just make the point that having a system where anyone can change rooms at any time is a good thing, whether the relationship between the roommates be romantic or platonic. What if our roommate and you are not getting along, and it’s affecting where you sleep and how well you’re doing in school? If living with an ex is going to cause excess stress that will affect grades, than how could a university justify not letting them move. The university is supposed to facilitate the success of its students. If the students make bad choices (such as living with a significant other), the school still needs to facilitate positive change so the students will do well in school. It might seem fair to punish them for their choice, but one needs to have some compassion and acknowledge that a bad roommate situation can affect schoolwork, and the goal of the university is to have successful students.</p>
<p>Sorry for the sermon. I wrote my sociology term paper on this issue, and I am a supporter of the movement.</p>
<p>@kitkatkatie</p>
<p>You make a very good point. I never thought about the whole gender based housing in respect to transgenders until now. This surely would make it easier to accomendate all genders when it comes to housing.</p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with mixed-gender rooms. I don’t even think being transgender or having an unusual sexuality is a major player in the reasoning either.</p>
<p>I’ve lived in a coed room 3 times while at college; all 3 times were in the dorms on campus. It wasn’t with randoms - I know everyone I live with usually (except when I went abroad).</p>
<p>Granted - the rooms are suite style - we are not literally occupying the same bedroom.</p>
<p>Obviously, you should not become romantically or sexually involved with your roommates (because it will lead to a shiit-storm later). If you think you are too immature or desperate for opposite sex attention to handle this, then no, shouldn’t have a coed room.</p>
<p>And anyone who rooms with their girlfriend/ boyfriend while in college is a tremendous idiot. At 18-19-20-21 you have no idea what’s going to work out, who you are, or what you want, etc. Plus, you’ll become a hermit with your SO and… well if you decide to do it you deserve the consequences.</p>
<p>Seems like a good idea to me. I live in a co-ed dorm at my boarding school and while all roommate pairs are same-sex, the co-ed environment of the hall is wonderful and I think I would really enjoy having a male roommate. I don’t think anyone should be forced into a co-ed living situation if it is unwanted, but I’m certainly for it and think it’s a good option.</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, why couldn’t transgender students just get singles? Alternatively, schools can opt to offer mainly mixed-gender floors with specific floors zoned out as single-gender. Would that not similarly fix the problem of someone who identifies as a gender different from his or her biological gender worrying about living in hall that makes him or her uncomfortable?</p>
<p>I see arguments for mixed-gender housing, what I do not see is how it is a necessity for transgendered students.</p>
<p>“I’ll just make the point that having a system where anyone can change rooms at any time is a good thing, whether the relationship between the roommates be romantic or platonic. What if our roommate and you are not getting along, and it’s affecting where you sleep and how well you’re doing in school?”</p>
<p>You get used to it just like you do if you have a same-sex roommate. It is not even remotely possible or practical at any school to provide on-demand room changes. I have been trying to change rooms since September and cannot get a room change because the demand for housing is so high that there are no empty rooms and I’d have to get someone to swap contracts with me.</p>
<p>This policy is very flawed. No offense, folks, but what if the woman has a “nice” chest? I think we know what will happen next…</p>
<p>^^^^ I wasn’t saying that they should let you change rooms any time you want. There does need to be a reason. I have a friend who was really uncomfortable with how her roommate sacrificed animals as a part of her religion (long story), so she was able to switch rooms. It can’t be that someone was snippy or yelled. There does need to be a legit reason that can’t be solved by the silent treatment.</p>
<p>As far as the whole transgender, etc. thing goes, I think that’s the first reason why a school would do it because of the anti-discrimination laws and policies.</p>
<p>I don’t think this system is “necessary” for transgendered students. They can fit into the normal system as well (as they have been doing for the past 20+ years). It would just be the right thing to do to make everything more comfortable and accepting of all different types of people.</p>
<p>@Baelor I agree about the zones thing. That is what I was thinking, however, forcing transgendered students to get singles is about as unfair and discriminatory as it gets.</p>
<p>I think the whole point of adopting the system would be to help foster diversity (and avoid lawsuits at all costs) and recognize that college students are adults that can live co-ed without issues.</p>
<p>I am confused. Is the shared dorm policy based only on request or are guys and girls actually being paired together as freshmen?</p>
<p>I think it is dangerous and stupid to just pair away girls and guys in the same room if that is the case. Think of that weirdo creepy guy who did all that sketchy stuff at your high school getting paired with the homecoming queen. I think it just invites disaster. Or what about the dude with anger management issues who treats women like objects? </p>
<p>I think too many guys would have trouble controlling themselves. They aren’t even adults yet. Too impulsive. Make things very uncomfortable.</p>
<p>I don’t have a problem with it as an on-request basis, but random just seems horrible. Like, if you were a girl, how comfortable would you be to share a hotel with a random stranger of the opposite sex? Now, for a whole semester?</p>
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<p>But they aren’t (I don’t mean legally, I mean developmentally) and they and can’t. The staggering amount of date rapes and sexual harassment that occur on college campuses prove this.</p>
<p>Also, have any of you figured what alcohol can do in this equation?</p>
<p>“^^^^ I wasn’t saying that they should let you change rooms any time you want. There does need to be a reason. I have a friend who was really uncomfortable with how her roommate sacrificed animals as a part of her religion (long story), so she was able to switch rooms. It can’t be that someone was snippy or yelled. There does need to be a legit reason that can’t be solved by the silent treatment.”</p>
<p>At my school, where gender neutral housing is in talks, you cannot get a new room for ANY REASON if there is not a room available for you, and there usually isn’t. My roommate is such a b*tch that I had to go to therapy to cope with living with her and I have been trying to swap since September. The housing demand is too high. Schools don’t just set aside rooms for people who can’t get along with their roommate.</p>
<p>For those who opt into it, I have no problem with in–in fact, since most of my friends (though I’m in hs) are guys, I might prefer it. I think it’s a great way to take the stigma away from LGBT community, where same-sex housing can get just as tricky. </p>
<p>But there are a lot of variables involved–ie, what’s going to happen when you’re both more than a tad tipsy and changing into pajamas? And I’m not sure how comfortable I’d be with a guy, despite my guy:girl friend ratio, living in the same room. I like lounging around in a sports bra, but that could be weird. Unless the guy was gay, which could actually be a fantastic arrangement.</p>
<p>So I guess the main issue is the dynamic between the two people and their levels of maturity (can they handle what could happen when living together?). But that varies for each relationship, so I think it’s nice that colleges are presenting the option.</p>
<p>As a student at Pitzer (the school the L.A. Times focused on), I can say that gender-neutral housing is just one more option. I wouldn’t say that it was squarely introduced for transgendered people; rather, it is simply another way to live. For some, it makes housing easier. Think of it as more freedom rather than a specific policy. No one gets put into a situation that they do not want to be in.</p>
<p>As for Manhattan75’s point, I would respond that the people of opposite gender who are mature enough to freely choose (and it is a big decision) to room together are respectful towards each other. I could see your point if schools were randomly assigning men and women in co-ed rooms, but this is simply not the case. </p>
<p>Again, one more free choice for the college student to make. And although freedom comes with responsibility, who can say they do not like the freedom to have a choice.</p>
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Saying “they aren’t and they can’t” is stupid when it has worked out just fine for many people. </p>
<p>Last semester I lived off-campus in an apartment with 3 other people (2 guys 2 girls, including me). It wasn’t a big deal, we were all friendly and it worked out. We’re all straight, we all shared a bathroom, none of us got drunk and molested each other. 
Well, since i’m hoping not every guy is a rapist and has seen a nice chest before, I would hope he could refrain from tearing her clothes off on the spot and taking her right on the futon…</p>
<p>If colleges were randomly assigning co-eds together, then i would see the problem, but I believe we’re talking about a situation where students specifically ask for a coed dorm?</p>
<p>Right, well therein lies my confusion. I didn’t realize that this was only on a by-request basis.</p>
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<p>First, given how little mixed-gender dorm rooms can be effectively allotted, once could very easily claim that its mere existence in colleges with dorms of different qualities is inherently unfair to those who do not want gender-neutral housing. This is at least currently a conceivably reasonable position because generally a particular part of a dorm or an entire dorm is zoned out for gender-neutral housing, thus preventing those who want same-gender housing from taking rooms that they may have otherwise wanted.</p>
<p>Second, no one is “forcing” anyone to do anything – transgendered students are obviously in any college more than willing to apply for housing with any number of roommates, just as non-transgendered students are. But that doesn’t mean that college rooming will be equally easy for all students. Singling out transgendered students is obviously ridiculous. Safety for all students is important, but I’m not seeing how this form of housing is a necessity for that, versus a luxury.</p>
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<p>Wow. I’m convinced! </p>
<p>The transgendered community is still not well-understood, both by the general populace or within the scientific community. And acceptance of all different kinds of people should never be an ideal, otherwise I would have to be “accepting” of the Neo-Nazi next door. I’m not drawing a comparison, I am simply pointing out how absurd your statement is. Arbitrary definitions of what constitutes a person worth accepting lead to too many problems.</p>