When it comes to gender inclusivity in the United States, a little can go a long way. In fact, according to a new study, something as small as seeing gender-inclusive signs in public spaces can help people develop more positive outlooks on trans and nonbinary people — particularly among kids.
The study, conducted at Washington State University’s Murrow College of Communication and published in the International Journal of Communication, tested a pool of 319 kids, ages 12 to 17, across the U.S. to observe how gendered and non-gendered signs on public facilities affected their perceptions of trans and non-binary people. Researchers found that, in a virtual school setting, kids exposed to all-gender signs were more likely to view gender beyond a male-female binary, and thus were more accepting of individuals who identified as trans or non-binary.
