Mixed-sex dormitories should be the only dormitory type permitted at higher education institutes

Before I lay out my main arguments for why I believe dormitories in higher education should be mixed sex. Let me elaborate on mixed sex dormitories, as some interesting questions have arisen in the comments. I am for mixed dormitories on the same floors, or separate floors, or even with men and women sharing the same room. As such my opponent can be against either of these systems as I am for it. However, when men and women are sharing the same room obviously this is a choice. This is not a proposition that we are going to be a Nazi style system where people are forced to do things they do not want i. e. share the same room with someone of the opposite sex. To elaborate further, if my best friend (female) and I want to share a room we should be allowed to. Now with that behind me, let me get to my arguments. Argument 1 is for equality. The simple fact is that if my opponent wants to win this debate they have to show that all types of dormitories besides mixed sex should be banned at higher education institutes (HEI). The reasoning behind this is simple at any HEI that only has single sex dormitories leads to homosexuals been able to live together. Clearly not all homosexual couples will want to live in the same dormitory, or room but there may be some that will. In the same manner straight couples should be afforded the same rights. My opponent may argue this is an absurd point, however if you consider that about 20 % of the population is attracted to the same sex this is not a bizarre claim. (1) In fact even if we use the often cited only 10 %, that still is 1 in ten, this premise holds. On a side note, remember that number next time you are with a group of friends. Even if my opponent may argue that everyone should be in single rooms in separate male and female dormitories. This is just as absurd, as we are well aware that college kids don't obey rules and so the same sex couple will still be getting it on in relative ease compared to the straight couples who are separated by not one wall but one entire building and the space in between. Argument 2 is for society. Males and females have to be able to function together in the modern world, as such what a better way to let people to get along than by putting them in a situation where they are required to mingle. This will benefit society in the long term, in the same way that co-education benefits school children (school in the sense means pre HEI). (2) Additionally, what a great way to meet potential mates of the opposite or same sex. Additionally, it increases your chances of making those life long connections that people make at colleges as the number of people you are in contact with is increased by 100 % if we consider a 1:1 ratio of women and men in the world. These connections are often not only for personal reasons but also business. So in effect we are increasing the chance of successful business partnerships that could happen and this is clearly beneficial for society. Argument 3 is for eradication of sexism. This argument fits in well with Argument 2, but I thought I would separate it as sexism is such a highly contentious issue in society nowadays. If you have men and women living in the same quarters this will surely eradicate sexism. An analogy to this is the dismantling of mixed race schools had a large effect towards eradicating racism and improving self respect of the parties involved. (3) When people are made to spend more time with others they will naturally get to see that these people are the same as them and as such learn to respect them. This may seem a silly point. However, imagine this type of process been made to happen in a country like Saudi Arabia where women are considered half a man. It will surely force men to be respectful of women. Additionally, in a country like Britain (or the USA) where sexism is such a minor problem it will surely help kill if off completely. In closing, I would like to say that even though students spend time in class together and hanging out having a beer, the issues of equality still exist in society. An easy way to get rid of this is to force people into a situation that will in the end benefit themselves and society. I now hand the debate over to my opponent. (1) . http://www.smithsonianmag.com...(2) . http://www.sciencemag.org...(3) . http://www.apa.org...