Inclusive Sanitary Facilities
Have you noticed? The restrooms at UGent are being designed to be inclusive. We are moving away from traditional divisions. From now on, everyone can use any stall.
The Directorate of Buildings and Facility Management (DGFB) has outlined prescriptions in its future Design Guidelines to ensure that new constructions and major renovations include inclusive sanitary facilities. This means that the restrooms will be mixed and fully accessible to all students and staff. The design considers layout, dimensions, signage, preferred surface area, accessibility, cost, and technical HVAC challenges. Universal Design and sustainability are key principles.
You can discover the first results of these Design Guidelines in the buildings on Dunantlaan, the Technicum, the Ufo, and De Sterre S9.
What do we mean by inclusive sanitary facilities?
Inclusive sanitary facilities focus on functionality, not on the user. It doesn’t matter who the toilets are intended for, but rather what they are intended for.
We are very accustomed to a certain layout of toilets in public spaces. We find it normal that men and women use different toilets, that (heavy) doors are used, that only the women’s section has trash bins, changing tables, and mirrors... But what is normal for one person can be a daily challenge and adjustment for another. Many invisible groups often experience great discomfort when visiting a toilet. Think of people with disabilities, gender-diverse people, or people with different cultural practices.
Inclusive sanitary facilities are fully accessible
UGent aims to provide at least one adapted toilet in every building for wheelchair users, located near an elevator. Efforts are made to include automatic doors, a free turning space, and devices that are accessible from a seated position.
These floor plans outline the most accessible route for wheelchair users. You will also find information about wheelchair-accessible elevators and adapted sanitary facilities.
Inclusive sanitary facilities are gender-sensitive
UGent strives to create sanitary facilities where not only men and women but also gender-diverse individuals can feel comfortable and safe. Gender-inclusive toilets are mixed toilets where everyone, regardless of gender, can use any stall.
Gender-diverse individuals or those whose appearance does not match the toilet they wish to enter often face comments. Due to discomfort and a feeling of insecurity, they often avoid using the toilet. This can lead to bladder problems or constipation. Gender-inclusive toilets ensure that gender no longer matters to anyone.
Inclusive sanitary facilities are culture-sensitive
UGent places great emphasis on international mobility. It is important to design the toilets with a focus on functionality rather than the user.
Toilet use varies greatly from country to country. The Western toilet as we know it consists of a sitting bowl and a toilet seat. However, in many Asian countries, squat toilets are common. In Europe, we primarily use toilet paper, but in some countries, a water faucet is used as a hygiene measure. Where necessary, UGent can provide awareness with functional pictograms.
We also ensure that the technology used passes the inclusivity test. For example, a soap or sanitizer dispenser that only releases soap or gel when the infrared sensor detects white skin is unacceptable.
What does the law say?
For staff: separate toilets
Regarding sanitary facilities for staff, we encounter very explicit regulations (CODEX Art. III.1 – 57), which state that toilets for men and women must be strictly separated. The labor regulations require at least one toilet per 15 men and one per 15 women, separated from each other and located near the workplace, rest area, or changing room. UGent must therefore provide separate toilets for its staff. In practice, this often concerns the sanitary blocks on the floors of a building where most office spaces are located.
However, the Constitutional Court confirmed in its ruling of June 2019 that the legislator must consider individuals who do not fall within one of the traditional gender categories (male or female) or who move between them. After all, there is a prohibition on discrimination based on sex in Belgium, including gender identity, under both Flemish and federal anti-discrimination laws. People in transition, intersex individuals, non-binary gender identities, gender non-conforming, or gender-fluid individuals often have problems with the M/F division in sanitary spaces. They are often implicitly forced to use the toilet that aligns with their (socially expected) biological sex, leading them to avoid using the toilet. UGent has little ability to change the obligation for separate toilets for staff. However, the good news is that it is allowed to choose the toilet that best aligns with how one feels. There are no regulations against the incorrect use of men’s or women’s toilets.
For students and visitors: mixed toilets
The legal requirements for separate toilets for men and women do not apply to student sanitary facilities or visitor restrooms. In the absence of regulations in these situations, the principle of freedom of choice applies, with the prohibition of discrimination as the boundary. UGent, therefore, chooses inclusive and accessible sanitary facilities for its students and visitors. In practice, this means that the sanitary blocks on the ground floor of a building will be mixed. Everyone can use any toilet stall. Urinal areas will be placed in a visually screened zone. This scenario follows the advice of the building commission.
Students or visitors who still prefer to use separate men’s and women’s toilets can continue to do so in the unrenovated blocks on campus for the next few years.
What changes will you notice?
- In large sanitary blocks, additional walls will be installed to screen the urinal area.
- The binary male-female icons will be replaced by the abbreviation 'WC' and the icons of a sitting toilet and a urinal.
- Mirrors will be installed in the original men's sections, and sanitary boxes (for sanitary napkins/tampons) will be placed in each toilet stall. The cleaning crew will take this into account during their rounds.
- Where possible, doors will be installed that open automatically.
What are the benefits of inclusive sanitary facilities?
- Thanks to the screened area, there is more privacy for urinal users.
- Research shows that waiting times are significantly reduced because everyone can use any stall.
- Mixed toilets increase social control (for example, men watching men). This has a protective effect. In mixed toilets, safety is increased for women, LGBTQ individuals, trans people, and non-binary individuals. Separate toilets emphasize the risk of inappropriate behavior.
- Inclusive and fully accessible toilets have a positive impact on the mental well-being and physical health of certain groups of students and staff.
Relevant Research
- "You're in the Wrong Bathroom!": And 20 Other Myths and Misconceptions About Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming People by Laura Erickson-Schroth and Laura A. Jacobs:
“There have been numerous attempts to legislate trans people’s restroom use based on allegations that we are sexually exploitative. These laws are framed not as infringements on the rights of transgender people but as “protection” for women, children, and others. Those in favor of “bathroom bills” argue that trans people are more likely than others to perpetrate physical or sexual violence or to spy on their neighbors while using the restroom. There is little discussion of the burden imposed on transgender and gender-nonconforming people when they are forced to use bathrooms inconsistent with their genders. In fact, as of 2015, there had been no recorded incidents of anyone trans or gender nonconforming being arrested for sexual misconduct in a bathroom within the United States ever, and trans people are far more likely to be the victim in such settings. Up to 70% of transgender people report having been denied access to restrooms, harassed while using restrooms, or even physically assaulted.”
MORE INFO
Questions, suggestions, or concerns are welcome via toiletten@ugent.be