Icelandic school becomes gender neutral
January 26, 2016 - An Icelandic elementary school has removed gender signs from its bathrooms in an effort to become “gender neutral”. The school also stopped dividing girls and boys into separated groups in gymnastics. If they need groups, they use the alphabet or other factors. But not the children’s assigned gender. The principal thinks that other schools should do the same, so pupils can be themselves without being forced in to a role.
Don't force gender roles
Sigurbjörg Róbertsdóttir, principal of Akurskóli, says that schools should not force their students into gender roles. "You just have to be conscious about the fact that we are not all the same and everybody has the right to be as they are. Everybody should be able to be themselves. And since there are currently children attending the school who are gender-fluid or trans, it is not up to the school to force them or anybody else into a pre-designed form”.
Appropriate swim-attire
Sigurbjörg says that the decision to remove the gender signs of the restrooms was fairly simple. "We don't have a large battery of restroom booths. The restrooms are like the ones you find at home. So there is no need to have them limited to specific genders. Now everybody can just choose either one."
The school has also changed some of the swimming lessons instructions. They sent a memo about it to the parents. The instruction does not say: "girls should wear swimsuits and boys should wear swimming trunks". Instead, it simply says that children should wear appropriate swim-attire.
The principal says the school does not see anything wrong with girls wearing trunks at the swimming pool. Or boys wearing a swimsuit. The kids can choose which one to use.
Mostly positive feedback
According to Sigurbjörg the reactions have been wonderful. "We have only received positive responses from the parents. I have mostly just felt gratitude and praise from the staff, who are also parents. Parents who have children who vary, so they appreciate these measures."
The kids themselves hardly notice the changes. "The ones who do, think it is no big deal", says Sigurbjörg. "Children are way more tolerant then we give them credit for. When they grow up with different kinds of people they learn to recognize and accept things. I think the kids use whatever bathroom they find convenient and don’t give it much thought at all".
Source: ILGA Europe Rainbow Digest, Gay Iceland