Counter-mapping as Action Research

Lessons Learned from the Microgeography of Universal Public Restrooms

Abstract

Single-occupancy restrooms benefit families and caregivers as well as trans and non-binary people. Recent US state laws restricting the use of gendered restrooms based on a person’s sex assigned at birth highlight the importance of improving access to these places. Part of our university’s response to a state law restricting restroom access was to share a map (layer) that identified the location of all-gender restrooms on campus. After identifying mistakes and learning these locations were not ground-truthed, we re-mapped these locations by visiting every public building on campus. Our work illustrates the nuances of restroom access on college campuses, identifies opportunities for advocacy, and provides a product that helps students and staff who do not conform to a binary definition of gender.