- Inclusive or neutral gender language is a social trend that has been present in different languages.
- More and more UNAM campuses are placing neutral bathrooms and now it was the turn of the Faculty of Medicine of Ciudad Universitaria.
- These toilets can be used by all people, regardless of whether they are men or women, and they emerged to recognize the LGBTIQ+ community and give a voice to those who have been ignored for decades.
Openness in all areas is one of the characteristics of the modern world. One of the highest aspirations is to offer the same opportunities to minorities that for decades (or centuries) were ignored. For this reason, one of the actions that more and more companies, establishments and schools are taking is the placement of neutral bathrooms. The idea is to remove gender labels to offer the same opportunities to all individuals.
In this sense, traditionally the only division between people was masculine and feminine. Although in recent years there have been other categories such as “binary” and even the way of writing has been modified to adopt an inclusive position.
What does it consist of?
Inclusive or neutral gender language is a social trend that has been present in different languages. The aim is to use linguistic expressions that avoid prejudices and sexist stereotypes, as well as the invisibility and exclusion in the language of people of a certain sex, gender or sexual orientation.
It covers a variety of strategies, rules and linguistic mechanisms, which are not uniform, nor are they always consolidated by social use. This includes the avoidance of the generic masculine in the Spanish language, the formation of phrases coequally, and the acceptance of the feminine version of traditionally masculine nouns.
This characteristic consists of using words with the ending “x” or “e” to adopt a neutral position. At the same time, it has been questioned for distorting language and to date has supporters and detractors alike.
Now, beyond the way of writing and speaking, inclusion has moved to other areas and one of the most important is the adoption of neutral bathrooms. In its simplest definition, it is about toilets that can be used by all people, regardless of whether they are men or women. Although in reality they emerged to recognize the LGBTIQ+ community and give a voice to those who have been ignored for decades.
In this sense, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has incorporated this type of bathrooms in several of its campuses. It is a gradual transformation and now it was the turn of the Faculty of Medicine of Ciudad Universitaria.
First neutral bathrooms for future doctors
Since last February 1, the first neutral bathrooms for the community of future doctors, academic staff and professors have been set up. The doctor Irene Durante Montiel, who is Secretary General, highlighted that the Faculty of Medicine has worked hard with the administrative authorities and has undertaken the task of designing and building these neutral bathrooms for the community. She also offered a tour to show how they are inside and asked for absolute respect to care for and make proper use of the facilities.
Do you already know neutral toilets?
They are located on the 1st floor of building B, next to the APCI. pic.twitter.com/NJKDYIHx9p– FacultadMedicinaUNAM (@FacMedicinaUNAM) February 3, 2023
The restrooms are located on the 1st floor of building “B”, next to the Integral First Contact Area (APCI). They seek to promote forms of community integration from a paradigm of coexistence that favors care, good treatment, plurality and non-violence. Also strengthen the conditions so that people, regardless of their gender identity, sexual orientation, gender expression and sexual characteristics, as well as any form of diversity or vulnerability, can develop in the public sphere in conditions of equality and non-discrimination. .
Also read:
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