[Gender and Sexuality Issues at ICU]
Yuji KATO (compiler)
Office Coordinator, CGS
[The article below is the same as the article that appears in the seventeenth issue of the CGS Newsletter.]
Since 2003, transgender or gender non-conforming students at ICU have been able to change their name and gender on the university records. The following is an abridged transcript of a round-table discussion on this issue with Tatsuo Nunoshiba (Dean of Students), Mizuho Aihara (Human Rights Advisor), Aiko Tsuchiya (Human Rights Advisor), Kazuko Tanaka (former ICU professor, who assisted in the first case over 10 years ago), and Mao Ueda (CGS Research Institute Assistant and Editor of LGBT in ICU Student Guidebook (Transgender/ GID Edition )). Note that all names are indicated by initials below.
ICU's Human Rights Advisory Office and Gender Identity Issues
K.T.: I first realized the complexity of gender identity issues after a number of students approached me about their own doubts and struggles. I decided that it was really a matter for the Human Rights Committee because it concerns not only individual students but also the inherent problems of the cisgender-based gender binary social structure in general. Hearing about transgender issues first hand was an eye opener for me. Even now, I know that there is much I still don't understand.
M.A.: It's such a relief for me to hear you say that. In my early days as a Human Rights Advisor at ICU, this topic was really the most challenging for me to deal with. At first I was only able to give a standard response. But chatting with students and sharing information and experiences with CGS staff helped to heighten my awareness and understanding. I gradually realized how people could be hurt in ways that I might not be aware of. And I've started rejoicing with each new consultation, as yet another person comes to us for advice and support. I'm so grateful for the support we've received from CGS.
The Significance of the LGBT in ICU Student Guidebook
M.U.: As students, we would hear about gender and sexuality issues through the ICU grapevine, like the possible changes to personal student information and special consideration during our annual health checks. I thought it would make things easier for everyone if we could summarize all the information at hand, so we created a guidebook based on information from students and professors with relevant experience. Before submitting it, we weren't sure whether such basic information would be helpful, but ICU students and even students from other universities have given us positive feedback, saying it is a great reference for them. But one challenge was figuring out the processes and procedures and finding the relevant departments of the university.
T.N.: Changing students' personal information on the university records also relates to student health checks and physical education classes. I think there needs to be more inter-departmental cooperation so that students don't need to go to so many different departments on their own.
M.A.: I was just talking to Professor Nunoshiba about how it would be a good idea to make a flowchart of the process after consulting with the relevant departments.
A.T.: The guidebook would be really helpful for faculty members as they come into contact with a wide range of students. So I hope that it will become more widely known on campus.
T.N.: It would be great if we could distribute them at faculty meetings as well.
Future Prospects
M.A.: Some of the students I've met as a Human Rights Advisor have told me that "I decided to come to ICU because it has this system [of changing students' personal information]." I think that it is definitely becoming a deciding factor for prospective students, especially since there are many students who will be turning 20 [the age of majority in Japan] or see college as a chance to start anew.
K.T.: Considering that it's been over 10 years since the first case, I do think that it's time for ICU to clarify its position on gender identity issues.
T.N.: At the same time, ICU needs to ensure that it provides facilities that live up to its position on these matters. Another professor remarked to me that it will "just require money." To which I responded, "it's actually much harder to change people's awareness, so it's easier for us if the problem can just be resolved with money!" (laughs) For example, I think we could try to resolve existing gender- related problems in the ICU dormitories where possible, and emphasize the diversity of each dormitory by highlighting their unique characteristics. That way people can choose a dormitory that suits them. I don't think a "one-size-fits-all dormitory" is feasible; instead, maybe we could offer a range of dormitories that come close to suiting different individuals.
K.T.: There have also been cases when a transgender student was not accepted to a dormitory, but we should really be able to deal with such cases with more flexible management in practice. I think it's important that we consider this properly in future.
T.N.: Yes, I agree. I've had some positive feedback from other Human Rights Committee members after I informed them of the recent interest from other universities in ICU's handling of gender identity issues. So I have great hopes that we'll be able to secure a transgender-friendly environment at ICU. I am committed to working toward this goal.
The full text of this article is available in Japanese. Download PDF (1.2MB)