Violence

In Public Places ...In our washrooms

Washroom Stories

The uncertainty of learning new things can make anyone feel vulnerable. For people who have experienced violence, feeling vulnerable can be extremely unsettling, and may make learning seem almost impossible.

Another, equally universal, moment of vulnerability happens every time we have to use the washroom. We don’t have a lot of time to spare in these moments, moments we don’t really want to draw attention to – and we’re definitely physically defenceless when we are relieving ourselves.  The washrooms of public spaces like schools, restaurants and public transportation may feel particularly scary.

For queer and trans people, for gender outlaws of all kinds, the washroom can be a site of violence and discrimination, of shaming and threatening, of being “told” we are wrong in our way of presenting ourselves in the world. One 5 year old tomboy asks her male teacher if she can go to the washroom during quiet reading time;  his response: “Are you going to wear a dress tomorrow?” makes her wonder, must she conform if she is to be sure of being allowed to use the washroom when she needs to?

How do we return to learning, trust our own knowledge, sit with other students, and listen to our instructor when we are not sure who will reject us next, when we cannot calmly relieve ourselves without fear of what reception we will meet?

Every day people are intimidated and humiliated over the same thing, in washrooms all over the world. Click here to read Sheila Gilhooly’s stories. Read about Danika’s experience in the “Judging” animation in the Student Kit. Add your own by emailing them to us – the more stories we share, the less alone we’ll be in the washroom.

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