Interest Grows In Gender-Inclusive Housing on Campus
Marist Housing experienced an increase in gender-inclusive housing from the fall 2021 semester to fall 2022.
Brooke Begley '25 and Elliot Murphy '25 with their housemates in their gender-inclusive Lower West townhouse. Source: Brooke Begley '25
Interest in gender-inclusive housing has dramatically increased since it was first available to students at Marist College for the Fall 2021 semester. Students who want the opportunity to live with friends of the opposite gender or who feel more comfortable in an environment of open-minded individuals can apply for gender-inclusive housing via the application for special interest housing.
According to Upper West Cedar Resident Director Kimberly Marsden, interest in gender-inclusive housing, especially from underclassmen, has increased significantly. The current sophomore class alone had approximately fifty students interested in gender-inclusive housing for the Fall 2022 semester. This is a stark increase from last year’s sophomore class, which had only two students living in gender-inclusive housing.
Appeal for gender-inclusive housing began pre-pandemic but stalled when the pandemic brought many projects to a screeching halt. Upon returning to normalcy, gender-inclusive housing remained high on the list of priorities for Marist Housing.
“It was something that we knew was a direct need and want for our student population,” Marsden said.
Outreach from Fox Pride, Marist’s LGBTQ+ student-run club, and other students on campus for more inclusive housing also spurred the development, in addition to trends in higher education. Over the last decade, many colleges have started offering gender-inclusive housing to make LGBTQ+ students comfortable on campus.
Switching one’s gender with their state and college is a long process for many, which can hinder students from living with their friends or where they feel comfortable on campus.
“That’s a multi-layered process that is a barrier to students in being able to feel supported and live the way they want to,” said Marsden. “I know that this helps to detract from that.”
Prior to these new options, trans students who did not identify with their legal gender on their ID were often placed in solo housing and felt isolated from the rest of campus. Rather than being pigeonholed into one area of campus, gender-inclusive housing is designated by grade level, so students live in the same areas as their peers. There is currently a gender-inclusive freshman suite in Midrise Hall, various sophomore townhouses in Upper West, Lower West and Upper Fulton, and a few students in upperclassmen housing.
Through the application process, which includes a short essay and a brief interview, Marsden makes it known to students that gender-inclusive housing is not for those who would like a single room or to live with a significant other. The housing office saw some students withdraw their requests once it was clear that gender-inclusive housing did not guarantee a space in Fulton.
Brooke Begley ’25 and Elliot Murphy ’25, who live in a gender-inclusive townhouse in Lower West this semester, are happy that Marist offers this option. Their house, which consists of six females and two males, would not have been possible in years past.
“We wanted to live with our friend Luke, who is a man, and he wanted to live with us, and he didn’t have any problem with [living with girls],” said Begley.
“I personally like it better because it feels like you’re choosing your friends, and you’re not restricted based on gender to be with who you like,” said Murphy.
In terms of differences from living in single-gender housing, there don’t seem to be too many, according to Murphy and Elliot. Normal issues arise between housemates, but nothing gender-related has caused them problems.
“I’m very glad that Marist has this because [for] some people, it just doesn’t make sense for them to be in a gendered house,” Murphy said.