It’s Encouraging That Bryn Mawr Is Changing It’s Admission Guidelines To Include Trans Women
As society progresses and better understands gender identity, things will change in favor of the trans, non-conforming and intersex community. It is only a matter of time before acceptance is more wide-spread and until that point, we need to applaud any and all efforts at equality for trans and non-conforming people. Bryn Mawr, a women’s college, is in the news today for changing it’s admission guidelines to include trans women as well as intersex and non-conforming people. This is obviously a huge step in the right direction and a very encouraging move:
From Jezebel, via a Change.org petition:
Specifically, the board-accepted recommendation strongly affirms the College’s mission ”” to educate women to be future leaders ”” and in this mission context more clearly articulates the eligible undergraduate applicant pool. In addition to those applicants who were assigned female at birth, the applicant pool will be inclusive of transwomen and of intersex individuals who live and identify as women at the time of application. Intersex individuals who do not identify as male are also eligible for admission. Those assigned female at birth who have taken medical or legal steps to identify as male are not eligible for admission.
In a world where trans women and men are still fighting to use the proper bathrooms and locker rooms, it is so heartening to see an institution as prestigious as Bryn Mawr taking a stand and widening their admission guidelines to include trans women, intersex and non-conforming people. A step like this will go a long way in promoting acceptance and in the rest of the world seeing this being handled properly. If an elite women’s-only college accepts trans women and non-conforming students, then shouldn’t schools and businesses everywhere do the same instead of discriminating and making it more difficult for them to identify as who they really are?
Obviously, I have no idea at this point if either of my own children will identify as transgender but I do know that my husband and I plan to be fully supportive if they come to us and tell us that is the case. The idea that my child would one day not be able to gain entrance into the school of their choice because however they identify is not acceptable to the institution is a very sad thought. As parents, we all want our children to be loved and accepted by everyone and the thought that they would automatically not be by a school or employer is horrifying. I am happy to see any progress in the right direction, as Bryn Mawr is demonstrating.
(Image: Shutterstock)
