"Selfish Choice" vs "Legally No Problem": What Do You Think About the Transgender Female College Student?

Transgender Woman Finally Admitted to Sookmyung Women's University
Some Japanese Women's Universities Allow Transgender Admission

Sookmyung Women's University located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] A transgender woman who underwent gender reassignment surgery from male to female has been admitted to Sookmyung Women's University, sparking intense controversy. Opinions clash between those who see it as a selfish choice that disregards the consideration of Sookmyung students and those who argue that legally she is female, so there is no problem.

On the 30th, Sookmyung Women's University announced that A (22), a transgender woman who underwent gender reassignment surgery last year, was finally admitted to the College of Law through the 2020 regular admission process. This is the first time it has been revealed that a transgender woman who underwent gender reassignment surgery has been admitted to a women's university.

A underwent gender reassignment surgery and received legal gender correction approval from the court in October last year. The first digit of the resident registration number's back part changed from '1' to '2', so there is no procedural problem in applying to a women's university.

In an interview with a media outlet, A said, "I want to show that transgender people who have undergone gender reassignment surgery and changed their resident registration number can confidently apply to and be admitted to women's universities," adding, "I hope other transgender people who wish to enter women's universities will gain strength by seeing me."

Sookmyung Women's University located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul [Image source=Yonhap News]

Opinions on A's admission to the women's university were divided. B (27), an office worker and a graduate of Sookmyung Women's University, said, "Women's universities were created to guarantee women's human rights and educational rights," and raised her voice, saying, "Is it right for someone who lived most of their life with a male body to enter a women's university just because they had surgery?"

She added, "Even if surgery was done, doesn't A still have a male body and strength?" and "My alma mater was a place where violence against women and discrimination against women in society were freely discussed, so I don't know if this can be understood."

Additionally, netizens criticized, saying, "If A lives in the dormitory, won't she eat, sleep, and wash together? How can the Sookmyung students who will live in the dormitory with her feel comfortable?" and "It's just a selfish choice. Being born male and having gender reassignment surgery does not make one a complete woman."

On the other hand, some argue that legally she is female, so there is no problem. C (29), an office worker, said, "I don't know why it is such a big issue that a legally female person applied to and was admitted to a women's university. Don't transgender people have freedom?" and "She must have made this decision after much consideration, and I don't want to ignore that."

Another netizen raised their voice on Twitter, saying, "Rather, actively accommodating transgender students' admission and school life aligns with the founding purpose of (women's universities) to guarantee the educational rights of gender minorities."

Meanwhile, in Japan, the number of women's universities allowing transgender admissions is increasing. Miyagi Gakuin Women's University, a private university in Japan, decided to allow transgender students to enroll starting in 2021. It is reported that current students at the university have also positively accepted the decision to allow transgender admissions.

Previously, national universities such as Ochanomizu Women's University and Nara Women's University announced that they would allow transgender admissions starting with this year's incoming students.

Tokyo Woman's Christian University, Nihon Women's University, Tsuda College, and Chikushi Jogakuen University in Fukuoka Prefecture are also considering allowing transgender admissions.

An expert emphasized the need to examine how much our society accepts transgender people. Lee Hoseon, a psychological counselor, said on YTN's 'Noh Younghee's Start New Morning,' "It is necessary to first look at how much our society accepts and interprets the area called 'transcending gender'."

He added, "There may be personal discomfort called gender dysphoria, such as anxiety about an individual's sexual identity or subjectivity. However, (by becoming transgender) the sexual identity has become clear," and "The individual's discomfort has been resolved."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.