The new potty training in Iowa

One of the first rites of passage anyone accomplishes is potty training. Children are taught to graduate from diapers to the bathroom, to go to the bathroom alone. It is a sign of maturity and independence. After walking, it is one of the first things kids do alone. Everyone values this independence and the privacy that comes with it. So why no are lawmakers in Iowa looking to revoke such an individual and confidential act?

The recent Bathroom Ban Bill in Iowa sparked a heated debate among lawmakers, civil rights advocates, and members of the transgender community. This new bill requires students at school to use restrooms that correspond to the sex assigned to them at birth, ignoring and refusing to acknowledge their gender identity. This discriminatory legislation will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the transgender community and their basic human rights.

The Bathroom Ban Bill is a prime example of how legislation continues to perpetuate systemic oppression and discrimination against marginalized groups, in this case, transgender individuals. Thinking about this issue in a vacuum leaves out all the other forms of oppression impacting a person at once. This is called the lens of intersectionality. Intersectionality is a framework created by Kimberle Crenshaw that recognizes how different forms of oppression, such as racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia, intersect and interact with each other, creating a unique and compounding experience of oppression for each individual.

Even further, the Bathroom Ban Bill not only targets transgender students but also disproportionately affects other marginalized communities, particularly people of color and low-income individuals. Students of color who identify as transgender face greater barriers in accessing public restrooms due to systemic racism and transphobia, which makes this bill a double-edged sword. Moreover, low-income kids who are unable to access private restrooms may be disproportionately affected by this legislation, as they are less likely to be able to afford alternative options, such as using restrooms in businesses or restaurants.

School is a formative time in many kids’ lives. They can express themselves however they like and experiment with their identity. I know it meant a lot to me, to be able to dress the way I want and have my own accomplishments or mistakes. Taking away this freedom and forcing students to comply with the gender binary will have negative mental health impacts on kids. Last year, more than 50% of nonbinary and transgender kids in the U.S. contemplated suicide. In Iowa, this number will be pushed even higher due to the Bathroom Ban Bill.

Furthermore, the Bathroom Ban Bill reinforces gender stereotypes and binary thinking, which are harmful to all individuals, not just transgender people. It creates an environment where people are forced to conform to traditional gender norms, making it difficult for anyone who does not fit into these categories to feel accepted and validated. This can lead to negative mental health outcomes, such as anxiety and depression.

In conclusion, the Bathroom Ban Bill is not only discriminatory but also reinforces systemic oppression and discrimination against marginalized groups. It invades the privacy and safety of kids at school, reverting back to potty training and taking away kids’ highly valued independence. We must recognize the intersectional nature of this issue and work together to create policies that support the full human rights of all individuals, regardless of their gender identity or expression. We need to create a society where everyone can feel safe, accepted, and valued, regardless of their gender identity or expression. The time for change is now, and we must act accordingly.

Mandy Morrical is from Mount Vernon and is attending college Macalester College in the Twin Cities.