Massey puts male and female signs on all-gender bathrooms

Massey puts gendered signage on all gender bathrooms. Photo / Supplied  

Massey University finds it difficult to put the word ‘toilet’ on gender-neutral bathroom doors, instead using gendered signage.  

The university committed to having only all-gender bathrooms in the new Innovation building at the Albany campus, however, it used binary signage of a man and woman on the doors.  

The complex cost around 11 million dollars to build overall.  

Massey’s website claims it has gender-neutral facilities on every campus, “All gender-neutral toilets have: signs saying ‘Toilet / Wharepaku’.”  

Auckland rainbow representative Ben Watt said the bathroom signs “defeat the point” of gender-neutral bathrooms.  

The Innovation building had signs which said, “Please use the toilet that best fits your gender identity or expression”,  a number of these leading to disability toilets Watt said. 

“Being a non-binary student is not a disability.”  

“You just have to change the signage, you don’t have to change the plumbing.”  

Watt suggested Massey take inspiration from Auckland University of Technology’s (AUT) bathroom model.  

In 2017, AUT reassigned 165 toilets as all-gender to accommodate for gender-diverse students.  

Its model includes having one building level as binary bathrooms, and the next level as all-gender bathrooms.  

A Massey University spokesperson denied the claim that signs within the Innovation Complex point non-binary students towards accessible toilets.

They said stakeholders including the students’ association were consulted during the design of the building, which contributed to the building of all-gender bathrooms, a squat toilet, and other features.  

In January last year, the university’s Senior Leadership Team agreed that providing all-gender bathrooms would be a requirement for all new builds and refurbishments at the university. 

“Massey University has made positive steps over the past few years in this area, however we know that a lot more work is needed,” the spokesperson said.  

As such, the Rainbow and Takatāpui Advisory Group was formed this year and was in the process of establishing two working groups: Data and Information and Facilities and Infrastructure.  

Applications for the working groups are currently open to university members. 

General president of Te Tira Ahu Pae, Jake Law, said, “We couldn’t understand why they’ve spent so much money on gender-neutral bathrooms to then make them have binary signage.”  

Law had raised his concern with Massey staff but had no formal response and the signs were still up.  

“They know what we think about it because we’ve shared our views quite extensively on the signage.”  

Law said there had been no consultation with the rainbow community on appropriate signage.  

Rainbow rep Carlee Gregory said if you don’t identify as either a man or woman, having these signs in your face makes you feel like you're not welcome on campus. 

“They’re thinking this includes everyone, but although it’s pictures, it's still gendered language.” 

“All they need to do is call it Toilet or Wharepaku. That would solve the issue,” said Gregory.  

Gregory didn’t feel gender-neutral toilets were a priority for the university.  

Manawatū rainbow rep Katrina Anderson felt having a binary sign implied that male and female are the only two genders, rather than being inclusive of all genders.  

You can find where the gender-neutral bathrooms are on each Massey campus on their website.