By Katelyn Jiang and Kaylee Huang
In recent years, the Shanghai American School (SAS) has introduced gender-neutral changing rooms in its swimming facilities, moving away from the traditional model of gender-segregated spaces. This change allows students of all genders to share a common area for showers, bathroom stalls, and changing rooms, featuring numerous private cubicles within a communal space. Despite the good intentions, there have been negative opinions regarding the safety and privacy of this new design.
Historically, SASPD has provided separate changing areas for boys and girls, with open spaces dedicated to one gender. However, in an effort to increase inclusivity, the school has introduced gender-neutral changing rooms in the 2024-2025 school year for all students, including those who identify as transgender, non-binary, or feel uncomfortable in traditional gender-segregated spaces.
The new facilities include a large open area with private changing stalls and shower cubicles, allowing individuals to change without the constraints of gender binaries. While these designs attempt to promote a sense of community and acceptance, they raise questions about privacy and comfort for users.
We interviewed several students to see the general opinion about this new change. A female sophomore expressed extreme distaste for the new locker rooms. This change has caused her discomfort as she now has to share the space with the opposite gender. Similarly, another student who’s on the swim team also commented on how the locker rooms can be inconvenient, as the limited number of stalls restricts the number of people changing at once. She said it is troublesome, especially before and after swim practice, when elementary, middle, and high school must share the common space.
On the other hand, another student said they like the new change, as the showers and changing stalls are blocked off individually, meaning students could occupy their own stall and change in a private area.
One major advantage of gender-neutral changing rooms is the promotion of inclusivity. By allowing individuals of all genders to share the same space, these facilities acknowledge and validate the identities of transgender and non-binary students. This fosters a more accepting atmosphere for all.
However, there are notable drawbacks. Privacy concerns are significant, particularly for female students who may feel exposed in a layout shared with the opposite gender. This discomfort can deter some from using the facilities, somewhat undermining the goal of inclusivity. Additionally, multiple students have already expressed their experiences of being walked in on in their stall by the opposite gender when they accidentally forget to lock the door, which could spread feelings of discomfort and paranoia.
The implementation of gender-neutral changing rooms at Shanghai American School marks a significant step toward inclusivity. However, this still remains a topic of discussion among the school community. Addressing people’s concerns about privacy and safety is essential in helping the school create a welcoming environment.