Public think toilets and changing rooms should remain single sex

While Irish society has become more accepting of gender expression, a new opinion poll indicates that biological sex matters to the public when it comes to the provision of intimate spaces and services.

An independent survey into attitudes to gender in Ireland has revealed widespread support among the Irish public for single-sex spaces, services and sports.

The RedC Research poll, commissioned by the advocacy group ‘The Countess Didn’t Fight For This’, a reference to Countess Markievicz, the first female Cabinet Minister in Europe, questioned a representative sample of 1,001 adults last month on a range of gender-related issues.

The majority favoured single-sex facilities and care provision, while more than half are opposed to people being allowed to compete in sports of the opposite birth sex.

More than three-quarters of respondents (77%) agreed that people should have the right to request that intimate medical examinations are carried out by a person of the same birth sex.

62% said public buildings such as schools and banks should have to provide single-sex toilets.

64% agreed that hospitals should be required to provide single-sex wards.

55% of respondents said males who identify as women should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports at any level, versus 21% in favour.