Implementing Gender-Inclusive Housing: A Narrative Inquiry

Abstract:The purpose of this narrative inquiry was to understand how institutions of higher education implemented a gender-inclusive housing option for students from the perspective of student affairs administrators. Of particular interest was how housing administrators perceived a gender-inclusive housing option impacted students and the campus community. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven administrators at four-year, mid-size, public institutions on the East Coast. Data were organized into four themes: experiences related to (a) creating a welcoming housing option, (b) shifting the binary on college campuses, (c) dissecting room selection processes, and (d) building the gender-inclusive team. The results of this study help student affairs educators better understand the nuances of aligning practices with professional values in relation to the needs of LGBTQ+ students.