When it comes to helping people feel accepted and included, we’re living in progressive times. It’s good to see that organizations of all kinds are taking steps to embrace people of every ethnicity, sexuality, level of ability and religious background.
An increasingly important element in this is gender identity. Society is making good progress in understanding that not everyone feels comfortable with social stereotyping around gender, and that male/female is far from a binary concept.
With this in mind, businesses and individuals are demonstrating their support by creating gender-neutral bathrooms. In not designating washrooms as either male or female, we remove the feeling of discomfort that a non-binary or trans person can feel in trying to choose the appropriate door.
The idea of gender neutrality applies just as much at home. We have all seen clearly feminine or masculine décor in people’s homes. A little consideration can create a more neutral space in which everyone feels at home.
Here are a few design principles for a gender-neutral bathroom:
- Self-contained bathroom units. In public buildings, rather than have a set of cubicles and a row of sinks, gender-neutral bathrooms often make everyone feel safe and protect privacy by providing a toilet and handwashing facilities in a single, lockable space. This approach gives everyone their own space.
- Cater for everyone. In a gender-neutral bathroom, make sure everyone accesses has to the products and facilities they might need. For example, ensure there is a disposal bin in every bathroom space.
- Consider your color scheme. Gender-neutral means color-neutral too! Choose whites, pastels and natural tones rather than too-obvious pinks and blues.
- Gender-neutral lighting. Lighting is an important consideration for any bathroom. It’s not only functional, but it can also really add style to a bathroom space.
- Gender-neutral bathroom products. Once you’re putting the final touches to your gender-neutral bathroom, make sure you follow through with the products you provide for bathroom visitors. Swap floral-scented soaps and hand creams for more generic options. In the home, you can extend your product shopping to neutral shampoos, shaving creams and even perfume, as explored in this article.
Gender awareness is a positive step for society and attention to this issue will continue to grow. Creating a gender-neutral bathroom is a sign of your support for the trans and non-binary community, and will help inspire others to follow your lead.