Harvard’s Bathroom Dilemma

After receiving our sophomore rooming assignment, my friends and I were ecstatic.

Then a bombshell hit the text chain: We would be “sharing a bathroom with men” because our hallway restrooms were all co-ed.

As a middle child with an older brother and a younger sister, I have plenty of experience sharing a bathroom with the opposite gender. But I remained in disbelief at the prospect of not being able to find a women’s restroom that was easily accessible on my floor.

This isn’t an indictment of the existence of gender neutral bathrooms, which are absolutely necessary for Harvard to provide a welcoming environment for all students. Rather, it’s simply a call for the University to collect and respect individuals’ preferences about what restrooms are easily accessible to them.

Initially, I thought one of my suitemates must have noted on the housing form that they were okay sharing a suite with someone of the opposite gender. But a couple conversations indicated that none of us checked that box. And to our recollection, there was no question asking us about our bathroom preferences.

Now, about six months later, I have showered many times in our gender-neutral restroom, while men shaved at the sink right outside my stall door. I still don’t feel particularly comfortable with this arrangement.

Just walking into our empty, shared restroom is a jarring reminder that men also use this space. Toilet seats are often left up, beard trimmings are in the sink, and the scent of men’s cologne lingers. I hate going to the bathroom at 3 a.m. in my pajamas and glasses, and running into a man taking a shower.

The biggest problem with this restroom arrangement is that it is uncomfortable for almost everyone involved. Some of my male friends refuse to use the bathroom on my floor — they don’t want to make women tense with their presence. Personally, I can't help but feel apprehensive when I walk in while a man is using a stall in the bathroom. It feels like we’re invading each other’s privacy.

And yes, I could trudge in my towel and shower shoes to another floor’s women-only restroom. But I, and others, shouldn’t have to do that in order to access the bathroom of our choice.

To be clear, I am not against gender neutral bathrooms wholesale — far from it. Such accommodations are necessary for students of all gender identities to feel welcome at Harvard. I am glad that the University is dedicated to inclusivity. But Harvard should do more to provide every student with easy access to the bathroom they are most comfortable with on dormitory floors.

The issue extends beyond personal preferences to important factors such as faith identity, gender expression, and experiences with trauma. Some students observe religious practices that prohibit them from being seen in vulnerable contexts by members of the opposite gender. Others may be reminded of experiences with sexual assault at the hands of classmates — a common occurrence on college campuses.

As Harvard continues to complete housing renovations for undergraduates, those in charge of plans need to consider how living arrangements will actually play out in future years, and give affiliates more of a say in their restroom setup.

For instance, sophomore housing forms might collect student preferences about what bathrooms they’d like to have readily available. Alternatively, fitting every floor with a single-use gender neutral bathroom and multi-use single gender restrooms could make all students comfortable.

Don’t get me wrong: I like men. I just don’t like them in my bathroom.

Elizabeth R. Place ’27, a Crimson Editorial editor, is a joint concentrator in Slavic Studies and English in Quincy House.