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shiloh burton | Oakland, California | artist website Policed boundaries, classifications, and permissions are not commonly associated with an individual’s choice to enter a public restroom. When most people go into a public restroom, it is an act based on the unconscious decision to enter through the door labeled either “MEN” or “WOMEN”. There is a certain visual image one must project in order to be socially acceptable in either one of these sites. The person entering the restroom labeled “MEN” must project a masculine image and the person entering the restroom labeled “WOMEN” must put forward a feminine image as measured against traditionally held gender identities. However, as stated by photographer shiloh burton; “Differently gendered bodies are becoming ever more visible.” So how then can this either/or system of public restrooms be maintained while gender expression grows beyond the simple binary into a more complex range of gender options? It simply cannot. The binary system of the public restroom which assumes gender is in alignment with visible body image must change to accommodate those who find themselves policed when entering either a male or female public restroom. Those who experience this policing when entering a restroom may not completely identify with either of the simple binary genders as signified on each door, or may not meet the traditional visual measurement standards associated with masculinity or femininity. Transgendered individuals are often forced to choose the restroom based on visual gender association, then find themselves “policed” or under subliminal inspection within those surroundings. The gender ambiguous person, “feminine male” or “butch female”, also becomes suspect when entering a particular restroom. Gender in the restroom is a fixed idea, leaving no room for the complex range of genders which fall between the binary opposites. shiloh burton connects the ideas of gender policing to gender identification and association as they relate to the public restroom. By issuing a “gender passport” as admittance to a public restroom, burton allows for the person to choose from passports labeled; “United Masculine Genders”, “United Feminine Genders” or “United All Other Genders”. This piece, performed by burton and participating restroom visitors, examines the borders of assumed gender boundaries. By allowing restroom goers to choose their gender identity, the need for automatic gender classification or gender assignment by way of separated male and female restrooms, becomes unnecessary and irrelevant. - by Amanda Moss  shiloh burton Gender Passports, 2006 performance |