More schools going gender neutral

A new study indicates a growing awareness by educators of students who do not fit traditional definitions of masculine and feminine. The study, by the The Gender Public Advocacy Coalition (GenderPAC), evaluated the efforts of colleges, universities and K-12 school districts to prohibit discrimination and promote awareness of gender identity and expression in their policies. It analyzed such things as school non-discrimination policies, gender-neutral bathrooms, gender-neutral housing and anti-harassment policies. The report said that 147 colleges and universities currently have such policies, as compared to 131 in 2006. More than 100 public K-12 school districts, encompassing thousands of individual schools, have extended similar protections to nearly 3.5 million children in 23 states. Despite the fact that all eight Ivy League schools have inclusive non-discrimination policies, there were a few surprising omissions among "Top 25" schools the report said. Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI and Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, all lack protections for gender nonconforming people. GenderPAC found in a survey of 651 students currently enrolled at US-based colleges and universities, that 30 percent have been harassed or discriminated against on campus because they didn't fit expectations of masculinity or femininity. Thirteen percent said they have been harassed for using a restroom because they didn't fit expectations of masculinity or femininity; and 25 percent felt unsafe in campus housing because they didn't fit expectations of masculinity or femininity. A similar study by the University of Illinois of 200 high school students in suburban Chicago found that 62 percent of the students saw peers who weren't "masculine" or "feminine" enough being called names and verbally harassed. Forty-six percent said they saw peers who weren't "masculine" or "feminine" enough ostracized and excluded from groups; and 21 percent saw peers who weren¹t masculine or feminine enough physically assaulted: pushed, shoved or hit. This is the second year that GenderPAC has published the Gender Equality National Index for Universities & Schools. The group said that the 2007 Index reflects a tremendous increase in the response rate -- 496 students, administrators and alumni, representing 278 colleges and universities. Last year there were 124 responses from 81 schools. "The issue of gender safety affects students of all genders and ages, whether we're talking about an elementary school playground or an Ivy League campus, we see an ongoing epidemic of gender-based prejudice, discrimination and violence," said Riki Wilchins, GenderPAC's Executive Director.