<p>Then congratulations? Sorry, not sure what to say to intolerance.</p>
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<p>So, since it’s not limited to one group, we shouldn’t try to at least help who we can? That seems like very flawed logic. Oh, and Princeton is offering gender-neutral housing next year. So I’m sure “Other” is going to be an option for gender, if it is not already ;). Considering a transfer?</p>
<p>Why should I be forced to live with a female? I am female, but I am MUCH more comfortable with guys. Why am I FORCED to live with females on campus? Shouldn’t it be about what I and my roommate want to do? </p>
<p>This whole thing is just dumb. People should be able to choose the people they want to live with, or at least not be stuck to ONLY living with males, females, etc. If you CHOOSE to live with someone of the same gender then good for you, but why should I not have the CHOICE to live with someone of the opposite gender?</p>
<p>You stated definitively that it is not a choice. Fine, but can you point to the cause? Can we definitively eliminate the possibility that it is a choice? I tend to believe it is innate, but I have not yet seen conclusive evidence. If you have any, then we can settle that issue right here.</p>
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<p>The details are not relevant yet. But in our gender-neutral housing, I hardly see the need for gender identification at all, given how the zoning will work at Princeton. I am curious, however, and will let you know if I find out anything. On forms open to the general student body, only two genders are available.</p>
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<p>You’re not forced to do anything – you are more than welcome to attend a university where you are able to room with members of the opposite sex. My university requires underclassmen to purchase dining meal plans. I may rather eat out everyday. Why am I “forced” to buy that meal plan? Why am I “forced” to keep all my furniture in my room all year? Why am I “forced” to do any of the things that my college requires?</p>
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<p>Not all choices are good. But ultimately my justification is from a base that you don’t embrace, i.e. my line is reasoning is an imposition of my basic assumptions over yours. The same way our laws are, actually. But it’s really not worth getting into the details since fundamentally we disagree.</p>
Depends. I share a normal two bed bedroom with my male roommate, because generally speaking it is impossible to get a single as freshman or sophomore at my school.</p>
<p>Oh BTW: gender-neutral housing is not just for people who identify as “other” or trans-gender. II am female and I identify as such, still I am opting for gender-neutral housing again. Some people just don’t want to make a distinction on potential roommate based on gender.</p>
Well you have to distinguish between gender and sex. Biological sex is the scientific concept, meaning male, female (or hermaphrodite for some unlucky folks). But the concept of “gender” is more of a cultural based one, isn’t it? So I guess some people whose biological sex is XY feel they fit into our culture’s concept of being a woman (and vice versa) and would likely feel comfortable in special housing. Again, it’s a choice, no one is forcing anything.</p>
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To continue your example, what if your college decided meal plans were no longer required for freshmen? Well, I’m sure many people would opt out of them. Similarly, many colleges now allow mixed-gender dorms and many people are opting into those. It’s really just a matter of preference.</p>
<p>I grew up with 6 brothers, a tomboy attitude, and interests in a field that doesn’t have many girls. Given my background, I wouldn’t be opposed to sharing a living area with a guy, regardless of sexual orientation or physiological status. I’m straight and one day will be married, so it would be nothing but a learning experience should I opt to do something like this for a semester or two in college.</p>
<p>It doesn’t sound weird to me…but it could be. I would say that many people would try and live together (romantic couples) and that would be the only problem. However, there can be some upsides. I would say that many people coupled would end up being fine together.</p>
<p>Is it? Or is it something innate? But even these questions indicate the issues that I’m bringing up.</p>
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<p>Of course. But one must ask himself why the university requires certain things. For example, skinning squirrels and eating them alive in the dorm room would likely be forbidden by the university (alternatively, assume it were legal but the university forbade it). Why would it do this, even if two roommates in a double were both okay with it? There are ethical, etc. issues at play everywhere, and housing is no exception. The fact that one has a “choice” indicates an underlying moral/ethical belief that both choices are valid options, a view that is not shared by everyone.</p>
<p>i’d really like to have a guy roommate (i’m a girl). i grew up in a family of girls and it’d be nice to have a brother-like figure aroudn and i’m straight.</p>
<p>To me, this line of reasoning makes gender a reflection or subset of personality, and thus sex has little or no bearing on anything. Could someone help correct me, or am I understanding this properly?</p>
<p>If you had read my post, you would have noticed that I acknowledged that difference.</p>
<p>The point is that if gender is a social construct, then sex means nothing. It should just be a reflection of whatever the person feels on that particular day. Or in a particular city, country, etc. Is that not what you are saying?</p>
<p>Gender is social identification - I’m not an expert but I’m pretty sure it’s referring to your own identification/ possibly behavior, and not society’s perception of you, though it could be both. If you dress like a woman, participate in feminine behaviors/ cultural norms of women, then your gender might be “woman.”</p>
<p>Sex is biological - 99% of people are born genetically/ biologically male or female, as evidence by what genitalia/ sexual organs they have.</p>
<p>But anyway, I don’t know why people are focused so much on transgendered people in this discussion. I’m not trying to downplay their “plight” or whatever, but what % of the population do they make up? One tenth of 1%? It’s silly anyway. People should be able to choose to live with whoever they want.</p>
<p>What does that mean, though – to dress “like a woman?” If gender is a cultural construct, then having a genderless society is possible. This also degenerates into the belief that gender is just another personality trait.</p>
<p>^I don’t get what you are saying. Yes, gender is mostly just a personality trait. It is not innate for you to like football, beer and fast cars.</p>
and i’m straight.</p>