King and Queen "gendered" Doors with new update
So with the new Sims 4 update, the game's gender system has been completely overhauled. One thing I was curious about after moving my new genderqueer sim in was how this would interact with the gendered doors, known as "Queen's Door" and "King's Door", usually used for single sex bathrooms so only sims of a certain sex can enter. I did a little testing with my cis male sim (man with all setting set to male default), and my non-binary sim ("man" with feminine frame, ability to get pregnant, and pees sitting down). Both were able to pass through both the King and Queen doors without any difficulties, so it seems the restrictions were removed entirely (unless it was just for show and didn't have any special restrictions before the update, but I think they did, and they certainly imply it).
My thoughts on potential updates:
The biggest one for me is in the description of the Queen's Door
compared to the King's Door
Now while neither is true, as there is no longer a sex restriction, and sex is no longer clear, my issue is with "Any problem with that?", which appears only for the females' door, and is unnecessarily aggressive. Unfortunately it bears the disturbing reality that many trans women face, where using either single-sex bathroom can (and frequently does) mean facing violence of any and every kind. As such, that phrase can be very triggering for people, and as it doesn't resonate with the welcoming attitude of the new overhaul, it has no place.
Regarding functionality and appearance:
Right now, the doors serve no purpose as special doors, as they don't actually function any differently than any other doors. I see 3 potential things that could be done with them
remove them
keep them for aesthetics/non-functioning role-play
adjust their function to the new update
The first 2 are fairly self-explanatory, but there are some different options for adjusting their function. As sex is no longer clearly defined, they can't exactly just be returned to their previous functioning. If they're going to sort Sims, as they're primarily used for bathrooms, most logical would be sorting based on whether they stand or sit to pee, and possibly reflecting that on the doors with an image of a urinal and toilet, instead of the irrelevant man/woman symbols. They could also possibly use a name update that no longer reflects gender. Alternatively, they could sort based on gender, or possibly reproduction setting, where sims who can't reproduce can use either door, if the purpose is to prevent pregnancies.
Anyways, those are my thoughts on it, share what you think (be kind), and hopefully we can get a mini-update for them.
My thoughts on potential updates:
The biggest one for me is in the description of the Queen's Door
- Only female sims are allowed beyond this door. Any problem with that?
compared to the King's Door
- Only male sims are allowed beyond this door.
Now while neither is true, as there is no longer a sex restriction, and sex is no longer clear, my issue is with "Any problem with that?", which appears only for the females' door, and is unnecessarily aggressive. Unfortunately it bears the disturbing reality that many trans women face, where using either single-sex bathroom can (and frequently does) mean facing violence of any and every kind. As such, that phrase can be very triggering for people, and as it doesn't resonate with the welcoming attitude of the new overhaul, it has no place.
Regarding functionality and appearance:
Right now, the doors serve no purpose as special doors, as they don't actually function any differently than any other doors. I see 3 potential things that could be done with them
The first 2 are fairly self-explanatory, but there are some different options for adjusting their function. As sex is no longer clearly defined, they can't exactly just be returned to their previous functioning. If they're going to sort Sims, as they're primarily used for bathrooms, most logical would be sorting based on whether they stand or sit to pee, and possibly reflecting that on the doors with an image of a urinal and toilet, instead of the irrelevant man/woman symbols. They could also possibly use a name update that no longer reflects gender. Alternatively, they could sort based on gender, or possibly reproduction setting, where sims who can't reproduce can use either door, if the purpose is to prevent pregnancies.
Anyways, those are my thoughts on it, share what you think (be kind), and hopefully we can get a mini-update for them.
