The development of society is an inalienable process of civilization, and some changes in people’s interests and their opinions concerning certain problems occur over time under the influence of new trends. Some controversial issues often arise, and particularly acute topics related to problems of ethics and morality are affected. One of the themes that deserve discussion is the possibility of creating transgender baths and the rights that can be given to this category of the population.
In the context of personal practice and beliefs, this issue is particularly important since when working as a teacher, it is necessary to not only have a concrete point of view but also to be able to convey it to pupils. The opinions of public representatives on this issue differ. Some advocates for allowing sexual minorities to use any baths and someone intends to firmly oppose such innovations. It is supposed that any decision taken on this topic will affect society, and I, as a teacher, need to be able to explain to children why this or that opinion is correct in the context of this situation.
Academic Analysis
The problem under consideration has different perspectives from the point of view of ethical issues. When evaluating it regarding society’s perception, controversial questions will invariably arise. Rudin, Ruane, Ross, Farro, and Billing (2014) argue that, based on their research, only 27% of the students surveyed favored the discovery of transgender baths while the remainder of the respondents criticized a possible innovation (p. 724). Such a difference in views will necessarily affect the moods in the society, and the problem can have more serious consequences than just public condemnation.
Disagreements in society can be based on different beliefs. At the same time, cross-relationships among issues will arise since the problem under consideration is related to not only the moral but also other aspects of life. Thus, for instance, Archibald (2016) mentions the position of the American government that allows same-sex marriages in all the states of the country. Accordingly, if such a law exists, transgenders can obtain the right to access any baths since their status is recognized by law and regulated by relevant legal norms. However, from the point of view of morality and social convictions, such a position has a number of negative sides.
The religious beliefs of many people will be affected if the authorities introduce appropriate amendments to the law. Also, based on the multilayered approach to the issue, the innovation will receive a wide response in various social spheres – educational, scientific, media, and others. Moreover, some limitations are likely to manifest themselves in the form of disagreement among some members of the government concerning the proposed initiative. Therefore, this issue is completely ambiguous and can cause public discontent with the existing legislation.
Evaluation from the Perspective of Cultural Autobiography
The attitude to possible innovations in politics regarding transgender people and their rights is largely due to personal prejudices and cultural background. My family adheres to conservative views on the process of education, and regardless of age, the parents’ opinion has always been considered authoritative and unquestioning. Therefore, based on the values laid down in childhood and the moral norms that my parents instilled in me, my position on possible innovation is negative. Moreover, I fully understand those who actively call for suppressing any attempts by the supporters of liberal measures to promote such initiatives and to support new decisions.
For many people, one of the primary criteria forming their negative attitude towards the new law is religious beliefs. Despite the fact that my parents and grandparents are loyal Baptists, our faith does not allow such free morals that are propagated today. According to Rudin et al. (2014), religious beliefs can be classified as a type of prejudice against transgender people. Nevertheless, when discussing the issue of the new law introduction, it is impossible to consider the position of the minorities exclusively in order to achieve equality.
A number of aspects are addressed in this topic, and the massive discontent of many people described in the paper by Rudin et al. (2014) confirms it. The cultural context of the problem is profound, and in order not to cause significant public discontent, it is essential to take into account the opinion of different people. Being a student of the pedagogical specialty, I anxiously think about how children will perceive such changes if they occur because they contradict established social foundations and norms. Therefore, there are more controversial issues in this problem than single-valued ones.
Evidence of Experience to Support the Position
Personal experience of working with children and cooperation with other representatives of the education sector can be proof that a possible innovation regarding transgender baths is negatively perceived by society. Proceeding from the pedagogical practice, it can be noted that all children have a well-established view of the world around them, which does not allow the violation of moral values and runs counter to the fundamentals of upbringing that are propagated today.
The article by Archibald (2016) does not mention the position of ordinary citizens but, nevertheless, brings the opinions of government representatives regarding the fact that the observance of people’s rights and freedoms is an integral part of a democratic society. However, freedom cannot be considered permissible if it violates moral principles and, in particular, negatively affects the representation of children about the world. Unformed child’s psyches can suffer from a lack of understanding about innovations, and it is a serious reason to carefully consider a possible change in the current legislation.
Historically, gender differences have been perceived from an early age as a norm. In case transgender people have access to any baths they want, it can adversely affect the emotional development of children. From the economic point of view, there will be no serious consequences. Special attention should be paid to the political aspect since not all members of the government will certainly support this initiative, which will cause disputes and conflicts. The complexity of the issue under consideration explains the need to understand the consequences of the introduction of the new law, and it is significant to take into account the relationship of the problem with public opinion.
Conclusion
The adoption of a positive decision on transgender baths is the cause of social anxiety. From the point of view of an educational aspect, such a decision will negatively affect the child’s perception of the world and will become the reason for parents’ and teachers’ concerns. The position of the government members regarding this issue is ambiguous, and additional discussions should be held in order to take into account all the consequences of the innovation.
References
Archibald, C. J. (2016). Transgender bathroom rights. Duke Journal of Gender, Law, and Policy, 24, 1-31.
Rudin, J., Ruane, S., Ross, L., Farro, A., & Billing, T. (2014). Hostile territory: Employers’ unwillingness to accommodate transgender employees. Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: An International Journal, 33(8), 721-734.