Would you rather live in a single-sex or a mixed-sex dormitory? At many colleges and universities, coed dorms are the most popular on-campus housing option. Some schools offer residence halls that have same-sex floors and wings, and others have mixed-sex floors. Some schools even offer coed dorm rooms.
Much to the chagrin of many parents, incoming college freshmen often assume that coed dorms are the best housing option. However, there can be problems with having dorm floor neighborhoors who are of the opposite gender. Before making this decision, here are some advantages and disadvantages of mixed-sex campus housing to consider.
ADVANTAGES TO COED DORM LIFE
- You get to live and socialize with members of the opposite sex. For many students (at least the heterosexual ones), this is an irresistible option.
- It's a helpful "real life" experience because the world isn't separated into same-sex spheres. Men and women need to learn to relate to each other, especially in the workplace, and a dorm can be good practice.
- Living with familiar men around can be a safety advantages for female college students -- or at least can make them feel less vulnerable.
- Coed dorms may offer students more housing options. On some campuses, only a limited number of residence halls are same-sex.
- Living in an all-girl or all-guy environment isn't for everyone. Some college girls find other women to be catty and would prefer not to live with a whole dorm full of them.
- Many students who live in coed dorms argue that it's not that big of a deal. Dorm life is not one big college sex party. Male and female students have the same basic housing needs-- sleeping accommodations, a place to study, and companionship. Why separate people with the same needs? After all, students are adults.
DISADVANTAGES TO COED DORM LIFE
- Having guys in the dorm may offer safety advantages to college girls, but this also poses safety problems. College girls find themselves living in close quarters with dozens of young men.
- Sexual harassment can be a big problem in coed dorms. College girls can find themselves the victim of pranks and "locker room talk" that crosses the line. Even if sexual harassment isn't going on, some college guys make girls uncomfortable with vulgarity and lewdness. Read more about sexual harassment in coed dorms.
- For modest students, coed dorms are not a good idea. No, people don't walk around the hallways naked, but they do walk around in bathrobes and boxer shorts.
- Coed dorms provide lots of dating opportunities. Unfortunately, dating someone in your dorm isn't necessarily a good idea. It's kind of like living together after the first date, since there's no getting away from each other. Everyone in the hallway will know your drama, and if you break up, you're stuck with each other. There are many places on a college campus to meet dating prospects, and living in a same-sex dorm isn't going to take those away.
- A same-sex dorm can be a fun and supportive environment. Both males and females sometimes feel more like they can be themselves when there aren't people of the opposite sex around. Freshman year can be stressful enough, so if a same-sex environment sounds more relaxing, it's probably a better option.
- Some students (and their parents) have religious or moral reasons for not wanting to live in a coed dorm.
For more articles about dorm life, check out this College Roommate Survival Guide.
Naomi Rockler-Gladen - Instructional designer and freelance writer, Naomi Rockler-Gladen writes some of Suite101's most read work.
