There were over 50 articles posted this week that mentioned the term gender neutral. The articles covered a wide range of topics, but the main themes included controversies surrounding gender-neutral bathrooms, the incorporation of gender-neutral language, and gender-neutral parenting trends.

Gender-neutral bathrooms in schools were debated across the globe this week. Administrators were met with backlash from parents and the public as schools in Australia and the United Kingdom attempted to install more bathrooms that were not gender specific. Parents voiced concerns about their daughters’ privacy during menstruation. Fortitude Valley State Secondary College in Queensland, Australia failed to install any gender-neutral bathrooms after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk overturned the decision due to public outrage. However, outside of the classroom Australia installed gender-neutral bathrooms in the Rod Laver Arena. Signs posted outside of these restrooms read, “Please use the toilet that’s most comfortable for you. Anyone can use these toilets, regardless of gender identity or expression.” In other bathroom related news, one of the “10 bills to watch in the 2020 Washington Legislative session” mentions a bill requiring public schools to “supply menstrual hygiene products in all gender-neutral or female-identifying student bathrooms, free of charge.”

Gender-neutral language was another hot topic this week. In Spain, tension rose between feminists and conservatives over a proposal to rewrite the nation’s constitution using gender-neutral language. Lawmakers suggested replacing around 500 words and/or doubling up (i.e. he/she) since Spanish uses masculine pronouns as a default when gender isn’t specified. English speakers have also struggled over gender-neutral language. Time Magazine wrote a piece on Dennis Baron’s book regarding the history of gender-neutral pronouns. The book mentions that over 200 gender-neutral pronouns have been invented in the English language since 1770, but claims none have fit as perfectly as they. Baron states, “The debate has been reenergized in the last 15-20 years because of awareness of nonbinary gender issues and transgender and gender-nonconforming people.” In the United States, there have been efforts in Jefferson City to de-emphasize gender by passing a proposition that would update the city charter to  include gender-neutral language. In contrast, in the Netherlands there have been some efforts to put a focus on emphasizing gender at the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. The report claims that “gender-neutral policies carry the risk of interventions by professionals that lack gender sensitivity, lead to gaps in protection and support, and contribute to the revictimisation of women.”

Parenting was another topic that popped up. CafeMom’s “Parenting Trends’ That Are Sure to Pop Up In 2020” included giving babies gender-neutral names and allowing kids to have freer forms of gender expression, such as playing with any toys they want regardless of gender. Articles discussed a toy fair in the United Kingdom introducing gender-neutrals toy and gender-neutral baby names. In other parenting news, big law firm Kramer Levin now allows new parents to take 12 weeks paid leave regardless of gender.