Hoopla

So I'm seeing Grinnell College popping up from time to time in the media for their new domestic experiment... Gender neutral dorms. Not co-ed, Grinnell has been doing that for ages, but dorms for those who don't want to identify as male or female. Roommates may be assigned or chosen from the whole spectrum of gender-dom. And Grinnell has allotted 10% of their dorm space as gender neutral.

Here's a statemetn from the college:


Grinnell College provides gender neutral housing to students for whom traditional, same sex room assignments are not ideal. This may include students who opt to participate in a community where the gender binary is not perpetuated. The College is proud that over 10% of the residence hall rooms are assigned as gender neutral. This option is offered in all areas of campus (and in traditional residence hall rooms, houses, and apartments).

Admitted students (incoming first-years) who prefer a gender neutral living environment should reference this in their Housing Form, which will be filled out on Pioneer Web once you are admitted to the College. If you do, you will be paired with a roommate based on your personal attributes and characteristics, and not specifically by gender.

Returning students who prefer gender neutral housing can contact Andrea Conner or Laura Gogg in Residence Life & Orientation before Room Draw in Spring semester to discuss their needs. Alternately, gender neutral options will be available in the regular Room Draw process, without having to go through any steps to attain these spaces.


Now Grinnell has always been a little, um, cutting edge on the sexuality thing. Apparently neutral locker rooms are also being added to the mix. And I've read that its considered impolite to assume someone's gender is what it appears to be, at least it is considered impolite in Grinnell circles.

So what does this matter to you?

Well, I graduated from Grinnell in 1995. It was a big leap from the Bible Belt to Grinnell, where bisexuality was cool, polyamory was beginning to be accepted. But as soon as I left college I understood that what I saw at Grinnell was what would follow in our culture. Grinnell 1995 looks a lot like USA 2012 (although I suspect most of USA 2012 isn't as familiar with polyamory (take the word apart, poly is many, amor is love... but don't google it).

If my theory holds, the Grinnell of my children's generation (not that I'd send my kids there if tuition money fell in abunance from the sky) is the USA of my grandchildren's. Pay close attention.