Mixed-gender dorm rooms are gaining acceptance

<p>Well, Baelor, what if gender is fundamentally performative? I’m not saying I actually believe Judith Butler, but it’s an idea that’s worth considering. Who’s to say that gender is not simply a cultural construct? You said it yourself, Baelor, that gender is not well-understood scientifically. There’s some understanding of the biology, although it’s not complete, but the more intangible notion of “gender” is not binary and is not that well-understood. Asserting that there are merely two well-defined, distinct genders seems at best ignorant and at worst intellectually dishonest. But if you prefer to believe that, you are more than welcome to. I do not object to your self-proclaimed intolerance, since it’s obviously your business.</p>

<p>I’m currently living in a non-dorm situation with a male (I’m female) and I must say it has been wonderful. I’ve known situations where it hasn’t worked out, but for the right person it’s a great idea. I myself do not deal well around too much estrogen, so the male presence has been great. Also, it’s nice having a different perspective for issues with my friends, boyfriends, and family.</p>

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<p>My beliefs have an impact on other people. So I would say that they’re potentially everyone’s business, which would mean that those who disagree with me deeply may feel moral compunction to speak out against me.</p>

<p>Anyway, I don’t think that there are two distinct “personalities” of gender. But there are two sexes – male and female. I simply associate two genders with them. In the absence of clear definitions of gender, then I would simply say that male and female exist via the sexes. I embrace the idea of masculine and feminine traits, but that’s another discussion altogether.</p>

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<p>And here is where you are very, very wrong. There are actually more than two sexes. Or rather, there are people that physically and genetically are two different sexes. There are people that are hermaphrodites, have Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, etc that don’t technically belong to either sex. If you are counting genitalia then they are one sex, if you are counting Y chromosomes then they are a different sex. </p>

<p>So yes, while technically there are two sexes, not everyone fits easily into “male” or “female”. [Women</a> With Male DNA All Female - ABC News](<a href=“Women With Male DNA All Female - ABC News”>Women With Male DNA All Female - ABC News)
Interesting read. </p>

<p>So are you going to go off of the Y chromosome or the vagina? </p>

<p>Oh, and once again, gender is a social construct- not a genetic condition.</p>

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<p>Right… because men and women that are grouped together AUTOMATICALLY will have sex because people have no self-control. Or better yet, that sex doesn’t happen when just males or just females live together. :rolleyes:</p>

<p>it would be so uncomfortable if, say, he was reallllly hot. or if we started dating, then later broke up. or if he was just really creepy…</p>

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<p>Sure. That is correct. But consider the fact that AIS is exactly that – a syndrome. And usually one sex is chosen if the child is a hermaphrodite and the appropriate surgery undergone. That is to say, one generally considers a “normal” baby to have a particular sex. Even in the case of AIS, the doctors say:</p>

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<p>But, I believe, intrinsically linked to sex – societal views of sex (on the whole) share remarkably similar characteristics throughout history.</p>

<p>I say, let 'em crash. They knew what they were getting into when they bought those tickets.</p>

<p>as a person who pretty much has the mind of a guy and knows what every guy has on his mind when he is this age (i am a female), i say this is a bad idea. most guys when they pick a college, they look for a party school so they can get laid. having a female/male room set up would not work as most girls would probably end up pregnant. and then you have more of the abortion thing going on and the cycle would just keep rolling.</p>

<p>^ Right, because, once again- no one can control themselves and the woman will automatically give in to the guy. Oh, and, they can’t get women any way by going a few doors down :rolleyes:</p>

<p>my college priorities are NOT about getting laid or going to a party school
nor am I that weak at controlling my “urges”</p>

<p>Yale recently approved mixed-sex housing for seniors… after a lot of foot dragging. Now every ivy league school has some sort of mixed sex housing option. I’m happy about it… i’m not sure i’ll ever use it, but already in the first year i see several of my classmates opting for a mixed sex suite.</p>

<p>Haha I think Columbia was considering it at one point.</p>

<p>“most guys when they pick a college, they pick a party school so they can get laid.”</p>

<p>I… I don’t even know what to say to this. As a male (one of many, no less) who has spent years of time working toward a good college and a bright future, I take great offense.</p>

<p>Hi. I’m sharing a co-ed room at college in the UK at the moment and hoping to spend a year in the US before I finish.</p>

<p>I don’t have a problem with sharing with a guy. I started off by always getting changed in the bathroom but soon got over it. I don’t go flaunting myself and neither does he, but if he sees me in my underwear, or even less, (and him likewise) so what?</p>

<p>Only problem is if either of us has a hot date, but we deal with that too.</p>

<p>It’s great to have male company and a male point of view and not to be with girls all the time.</p>

<p>Shazz</p>

<p>I’ve lived in many different housing arrangements. My two cents (maybe my quarter haha) are (I’m male, regular guy, straight, don’t get drunk and annoying):</p>

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<li><p>best arrangement for me was living in an apartment shared with 2 other girls and one guy, each with our own single room. It’s like living with the opposite sex in a strict non-romantic environment makes both sexes behave better in terms of cleaning, having people to talk about life in different ways and so. Great experience, would repeat easily.</p></li>
<li><p>worst arrangement for me was living in a triple (although very big) room with 2 other guys. They were great (one) and ok (the other), but conversations hovered around girls, getting laid, party; one left his underwear all over the place, other sexiled us here and there and farted thinking it was funny.</p></li>
<li><p>I’ve shared a room with a female friend too. It was like a studio, but we slept in the same “space”, though beds were in opposite sides and kinda perpendicular one in to another.</p></li>
<li><p>there is nothing really “hot” about sharing your room with a girl (or a person of the opposite sex). I mean, for real: if you are choosing a roommate, not a date, it will likely work out. We already see people with few clothes in the beach, in the resort, in the pool party…</p></li>
<li><p>if you have a female friend, at whom you have no crush, becoming your roommate, the first days it can be a little weird, you might feel a little more uncomfortable to change clothes and so (but if I had new male roommate I haven’t met before, I’d be uncomfortable too). You will not stare at her changing clothes and vice-versa. With time, it became (at least to me, in both situations I described) a non-issue. Geez, we went to the swimming pool together often, what was the big deal seeing her with underwear accidentally?</p></li>
<li><p>situation can get tricky if you start dating someone who doesn’t understand this. A date of one of my female roommates, who was an acquaintance of mine, was always looking the other way because he was feeling uncomfortable that his date usually shared a room with another guy. So as much as a relationship is not enough to move together, beginning a relationship might make you feel the need to move out of concern of your new girlfriend (or boyfriend).</p></li>
<li><p>less serious dating situations can be navigated like ones with roommates of your same sex. And you have the advantage, if you and your opposite sex roommate are cool with it, to have someone to talk about it in a non-threatening way. At least I find it quite interesting to discuss this dating things with female friends that can keep their mouths shout after.</p></li>
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