The Influence of Mandates on Reception of Gender Inclusive Washrooms

What is an effective way to introduce UBC students to and elicit more positive attitudes, perceptions, and demand towards gender inclusive washrooms? Based on prior research on provincial norms and in-group biases, we hypothesize that mentioning an institutional (UBC) mandate will create more positive attitudes, perceptions, and demand towards gender-inclusive washrooms than a provincial (BC) mandate will. We had two conditions; in the first condition we described the mandate as being an institutional mandate, and in the second it was described as a provincial mandate. Participants were randomized into each condition. In the survey, we examined UBC students’ perceptions and attitudes on two kinds of gender inclusive washrooms: single-stall washrooms and multi-stall washrooms. In the second part of the study, we asked our participants if they would like to have more gender inclusive washrooms, and if they did, which location they would want them to be built on. Our hypothesis was not supported; the survey responses show higher support from the provincial mandate group than the institutional mandate group. However, our hypothesis was supported by the mean number of map points indicated in each condition; the institutional mandate showed higher demand. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”Arts, Faculty ofPsychology, Department ofUnreviewedUndergraduat