[Year 12 IT Apps] For 2016 - Gender inclusivity

[Roland Gesthuizen]

Left hand icon for the lads is missing a sporran ;-)

Actually, there is a quite a community around uni-sex pictograms. (one of my rusty talents is sight-reading braille) 
	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unisex_public_toilet

When we get past the obvious giggles and political bias, there is a great learning opportunity for our subject and an chance to have a powerful discussion.

It is easy build a library database using a simple Boolean option of male and female, a simple binary choice 

.. after leading students towards this trap.

Consider the cultural arrogance if the default entry was “male". 

Why is it better to call this category “Gender” instead of “Sex” (I teach biology 

How would a transgender individual feel about only being able to choose M or F?

Was a binary choice the best option? Australian passports now cater for other genders
	https://www.passports.gov.au/web/sexgenderapplicants.aspx <https://www.passports.gov.au/web/sexgenderapplicants.aspx>

And lastly. Seriously, why are we collecting this information and how will we intend to use it?

All this is a great example of how database design can transmit cultural information, reinforce ignorance and bias.

Lassie, only use this power for good and do no evil. 

—
Roland GESTHUIZEN
http://about.me/rgesthuizen

> On 25 May 2015, at 9:47 am, Laurie Savage <08327998 at pvgc.vic.edu.au> wrote:
> 
> Damn those scots!
> 
> <scottishRestrooms.png>
> 
> 
> Laurie Savage
> https://sites.google.com/a/pvgc.vic.edu.au/mr-savage/home <https://sites.google.com/a/pvgc.vic.edu.au/mr-savage/home>
> 
> On 23 May 2015 at 17:43, ken price <kenjprice at gmail.com <mailto:kenjprice at gmail.com>> wrote:
> You may have noticed many new toilets marked RH and LH. 
> 
> Eg http://www.bronsonsafety.com.au/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/500x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/u/n/unisex-toilet-rh-shower.png <http://www.bronsonsafety.com.au/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/500x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/u/n/unisex-toilet-rh-shower.png>
> And
> 
> http://www.bronsonsafety.com.au/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/500x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/u/n/unisex-toilet-lh.png <http://www.bronsonsafety.com.au/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/500x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/u/n/unisex-toilet-lh.png>
> 
> Conveniently these can be misinterpreted as being for right and left handed people.
> 
> It is surprising how gullible some students and staff can be about this, especially if there are more RH than LH, because you can direct right-handers to "their" toilet and they notice nothing irregular.
> 
> I leave this as an exercise for the reader.
> 
> Ken.
> 
> On Saturday, May 23, 2015, Robert Hind <robert at yinnar.com <>> wrote:
> Sorry to tell you Mark that those toilet identifiers are still sexist. Perhaps we should work towards toilets that are just toilets rather than being for men or for women - just like at home or on the aeroplane.
>  
> Robert Hind
> Retired
> Ex Traralgon and Ashwood
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Mark <>
> To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List <>
> Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2015 11:29 AM
> Subject: [Year 12 IT Apps] For 2016 - Gender inclusivity
> 
> Hi, toilet-door admirers.
> 
> Part of 2016 KK is gender inclusivity. 
> This article tells of the cunning plans for designing non-sexist toilet identifiers.
> 
> http://www.wired.com/2015/05/redesigned-ladies-restroom-icon-cleverly-skirts-skirt/ <http://www.wired.com/2015/05/redesigned-ladies-restroom-icon-cleverly-skirts-skirt/>
> 
> -- 
> 
> "The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog." Mark Twain
> 
> Mark Kelly
> mark AT vceit DOT com
> http://vceit.com <http://vceit.com/>
> 
> 
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> -- 
> -- 
> Dr Ken Price MACS CP ACCE Professional Associate.
> President, TASITE http://www.tasite.tas.edu.au <http://www.tasite.tas.edu.au/>
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