What Target could have done to avoid #BoycottTarget and help everyone!

Who am I? First of all, I am a conservative, Christian mother. I may not personally agree with Target’s recent bathroom decisions/announcements as of late. However, I understand the company wanting people to feel included and comfortable regardless of their identifying gender. Fine. I can live with that concept. I’m not against it at all.

Unfortunately, their announcement and policy hasn’t really fixed the problem for everyone. Now 700,000 signatures on the petition to “Boycott Target”, make it clear that not everyone is comfortable. Target has not fixed the gender issue when it comes to their restrooms. Liberals are celebrating. Families are worried about their safety. It’s all a big mess.

Target has gotten attention, yes.
Target has caused a stir, yes. 
Target has entered the world of the political, not commercial.

But Target has not completely or fully addressed the needs of all by allowing the transgender to pick the bathroom of their choice. We live in a world where gender is on a spectrum. Facebook now offers 56 different gender options for people to identify with. Target’s decision, doesn’t answer for the Bigender, Androgynous, Pangender and more that now identify themselves as such.

If Target was really wanting to help everyone feel included and comfortable, here is what they could have done:

FLOOR-TO-CEILING STALLS with one LARGE bathroom.
Renovate ALL their bathrooms (or maybe even just one store’s as a trial run). Assign no gender to the larger, new bathrooms. Include floor to ceiling partitions between the stalls. All stalls would open to shared sinks and the whole thing could be open air too (aka no doors except for on the stalls). Include some larger, assigned stalls for families and handicap to use. Target could even install cameras in the main bathroom area for added security.
This style of stall is common in Europe and is called a “water closet”. In my travels of Europe, I have never had a problem with this system.

Here are just a couple reasons why this would be a better option than a simple policy:
1. No gender is assigned and accounts for the inclusion of all. Persons of any gender identity are welcome to use any stall. No questions. All are welcome and included on the gender spectrum, male, female, trans or otherwise.
2. Added safety/No “peeping Toms”. This is one of the biggest concerns of mothers in opposition to the announced policy. The concern that just any man could walk into the women’s restroom and that women aren’t even allowed to feel uncomfortable about it. However, floor to ceiling stalls would help eliminate this all together!

These changes would better serve peoples of all gender while still giving families with children the ability to feel safe in a sealed stall.
If Target where to make changes like this they are being more than political, they are being helpful. Put your money where your mouth is, Target, and make some real changes if you want to make everyone comfortable.