Week of June 15

News regarding gender-neutral topics continues to be slow. Gender-neutral workplace policies made up the majority of articles this week. One article discussed LGBTQ+ friendly policies being implemented in architecture, engineering and construction industries, such as the use of gender-neutral language. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development produced an article for Pride Month encouraging employers to “review your organisation’s policies to ensure they are gender-neutral and inclusive.” Another article explained how to eliminate gender biases during hiring processes, such as using gender-neutral language for job descriptions. HackerEarth took this concept a step further and created a program to remove gender biases when hiring. Applicants are given gender-neutral aliases for hirers to look over that combine an adjective and pop culture character such as “Precious Jigglypuff”. 

However, one article discussed the importance of gender equity in academia instead of gender-neutral policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article stated, “Instead of using biased gender-neutral reactions, which often help men over women, institutions need to be mindful and must take steps to protect the pipeline of women faculty.”

Another article featured a NPR interview about trans friendly workplace policies discussing the importance of gender-neutral bathrooms. The interview specifically discussed the importance of these bathrooms on campuses for graduate students, faculty, and staff since most are in locations with a heavy undergraduate presence. One interviewee stated, “if you don’t have anywhere to safely use the restroom, you probably won’t be able to focus on your work.” One article about California law policies for LGBTQ+ employees mentioned that single occupancy restrooms must use gender-neutral language. In other news about gender-neutral restrooms, there was public outrage over the women’s bathroom in Abington Park being turned into a gender-neutral one. With the global pandemic, the park opened up only one restroom and made it gender-neutral, so anyone could access it. 

Gender-neutral policy changes were also heavily featured this week. The Orange County School Board recently made their dress code gender-neutral. The article discussed its importance since many young girls are targeted and oversexualized by gender specific dress codes and it ultimately interferes with young girls’ education. Several articles discussed the city of Duluth changing their administrative titles from “chief” to “city” in order to be sensitive to other cultures and gender-neutral. For example, the “chief administrative officer” will be renamed to “city administrator.” The mayor also hopes to change the city charter from gender-specific to gender-neutral. Meanwhile, residents of Medway, Massachusetts voted against changing the title “Board of Selectmen” to gender neutral “Select Board”.