What Leiden University is doing about gender inclusion
Leiden University wants to be a safe and inclusive learning and working environment for all its students and staff. In an interview with XperHR HR knowledge platform, Diversity Officer and lecturer Aya Ezawa and HR director Esther van Opstal explain why all-gender toilets are an important part of our diversity policy.
Since this year, we have had one or more all-gender toilets in nineteen University buildings.
More are on the way. The new toilets have caused little in the way of discussion, says Van Opstal. ‘Young people think it’s completely normal to have these facilities. They’ve often moved away from the distinction between men, women, non-binary or in transition. They think gender-inclusive toilets are as obvious at a university as they are at home.’
Ezawa explains in the interview how a concerned staff member called to ask whom the toilets were for. ‘My answer was: they’re for you too if that’s your choice. That reassured the staff member.’
Read the full interview with Esther and Aya here (in Dutch).