Gender-Inclusive Housing Preferences: A Survey of College-Aged Transgender Students

Traditional on-campus housing assignments at colleges and universities are made on the basis of legal sex, where students are housed only with other students of the same legal sex. This method is problematic for transgender and gender-nonconforming students, who may not identify with the gender assigned to them at birth. Recently, some institutions have begun to offer gender-inclusive housing to better serve the needs of transgender and gender-nonconforming students. Colleges and universities take a variety of approaches in incorporating this housing option, with varying results. The present research asked traditionally college-aged transgender and gender-nonconforming people which types of housing they would most prefer when considering living on a college campus. In all, 103 college-aged adults participated in the survey and revealed that apartment-style housing and self-contained singles were the most preferred among five housing options currently in use at various colleges and universities across the country. Implications for the various options are discussed, as well as support policies to consider when instituting a gender-inclusive housing community.