Gendered Restrooms and Minority Stress: The Regulation of Public Sexuality and its Impact on Trans People's Health and Public Lives

The binary construction of gender is powerfully enforced in public spaces. Nowhere is this enforcement stronger than in public bathrooms. To enter and use gendered public restrooms, one's biological sex and gendered appearance are expected to be bound and conforming to stereotypical gender roles. Due to this expectation, trans people face a unique set of problems in public restrooms, such as experiences of public humiliation, harassment, arrest, and violence. Negative experiences motivated by gender identity bias, can impact an individual's life in many ways, including in employment, education, health, and participation in public life. The author utilizes a minority stress framework to discuss the impact of stress related to gender-identity bias on the health and social well-being of trans people. Data come from a survey of 93 trans people who were residents of Washington, DC in 2008. Results show that 68% of respondents reported having had one or more bias-related experience in public restrooms including denial of access, verbal harassment, and physical assault. One method used to prevent bias-related experiences is avoidance of public restrooms, 58% reported that to avoid gendered public restrooms they have avoided certain public places or avoided going out in public altogether. This has negatively impacted not only participation in public life but also physical health—54% reported physical problems, such as bladder and kidney problems, as a result of avoiding using public restrooms when needed. The author will describe how gendered public spaces impact trans people's health and social well-being and discuss approaches for public policy and public health interventions.