My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Join the discussion and meet other Mumsnetters on our free online chat forum.

Chat

Toilets - single sex or gender neutral?

27 replies

3beesinmybonnet · 11/01/2021 18:50

The government is asking for the views of members of the public on provision of toilets, with particular regard to the recent trend away from single sex toilets towards gender neutral i.e. mixed sex. If you're at all concerned about this you can express your concerns via this link:

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/toilet-provision-for-men-and-women-call-for-evidence/toilet-provision-for-men-and-women-call-for-evidence

The closing date is 29th January 2021.

OP posts:
Report
gardenbird48 · 11/01/2021 19:32

it is great that the government are asking these questions - it is an important issue.

Near us the council closed the women's side of the toilets and made the men's mixed sex - urinals and all Confused . No way would I be letting my daughter go in there on her own (tbf I don't want to run the gauntlet of the urinals either). I was hoping for a way of telling them that this is not acceptable.

I've seen a number of other toilets where the women's are made mixed sex and then men's remain men's only - so men get double toilets Hmm. It's all a bit of a mess atm and they need to get on and sort it.

Report
BelleSausage · 11/01/2021 19:36

Single sex.

My main reason is that I have used women’s loos twice to evade men who were harassing me in bars. Both times lovely women in the loos scared him off.

I was a quite teenager. I really worry for many teenage girls if they don’t have spaces without boys. It is such a difficult time I. Dealing with changes with your body. I can imagine being brave enough to go to the loo and change pads at that ages with boys present.

I reckon a mixture of single sex and gender neutral really. To cater for all. Turn some of the men’s loos gender neutral.

Report
HermioneWeasley · 11/01/2021 19:37

Single sex

Report
howaboutme · 11/01/2021 19:38

Single sex due to cleanliness

Report
sandandso · 11/01/2021 19:40

I'm so heartened by the government statement in the link. I thought it would just say "hey, what should we do, what do you all fancy?". But no - they are firmly saying that they want there to be more single-sex provision and they understand this is particularly important to women! HURRAH Smile

Report
Bearsinmotion · 11/01/2021 19:43

How odd. That link strongly implies that only women menstruate, get pregnant or experience menopause. Is that not considered transphobic?

Report
Cailleach · 11/01/2021 20:05

All single cubicle with integral sink and own entrance door - in other words each toilet is in a room on its own. That ends this absurd debate in one blow and keeps everyone safe.

It's what my work have just done and it's a stroke of genius as no whiny little buggers have any excuse to chelp on about anything any more.

Let's see this done nationwide. It'll cost money but who cares if it keeps pervs out of the women's loos.

Report
RavingAnnie · 11/01/2021 20:13

@Cailleach

All single cubicle with integral sink and own entrance door - in other words each toilet is in a room on its own. That ends this absurd debate in one blow and keeps everyone safe.

It's what my work have just done and it's a stroke of genius as no whiny little buggers have any excuse to chelp on about anything any more.

Let's see this done nationwide. It'll cost money but who cares if it keeps pervs out of the women's loos.

That doesn't resolve the issue of cleanliness though does it. For some reason men cannot seem to be actually to piss IN the toilet and (through no fault of their own) their wee absolutely stinks. Every gender neutral toilet I've ever been in has been pretty disgusting or stinky.
Report
sandandso · 11/01/2021 20:14

@Cailleach two problems with that I shall chelp about...

  1. still potential for predatory men to place hidden cameras
  2. men are so much messier than women in the loo, it's just a fact, and I'd rather not use a public loo after them - or worse, a long stream of them!

    I do also value the ladies' as a female only space and refuge.
Report
IHaveBrilloHair · 11/01/2021 20:14

Single sex with more privacy please.

Report
OliverBabish · 11/01/2021 20:16

Fucking hell. Single fucking sex! Men are gross and this is a hill I will die on.

Report
CatVsChristmasTree · 11/01/2021 20:17

It seems they only want comments on 'technical issues'?

Report
reluctantbrit · 11/01/2021 20:19

@Cailleach

All single cubicle with integral sink and own entrance door - in other words each toilet is in a room on its own. That ends this absurd debate in one blow and keeps everyone safe.

It's what my work have just done and it's a stroke of genius as no whiny little buggers have any excuse to chelp on about anything any more.

Let's see this done nationwide. It'll cost money but who cares if it keeps pervs out of the women's loos.

Exactly. Also a lot nicer if you have a messy period and need to clean up.

My old work place did it 20 years ago, hardly a new invention.
Report
shrill · 11/01/2021 20:21

Times when periods are an issue mean I know others would agree is when we want privacy and not remarks from people who have no idea about such matters. I'm frustrated about the need to explain why for some this issue is Not to be taken lightly.

Report
GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy · 11/01/2021 20:26

How odd. That link strongly implies that only women menstruate, get pregnant or experience menopause. Is that not considered transphobic?
No, just truthful?

Report
NoToast · 11/01/2021 20:29

I don't like single room provision. To reach a woman who was unconscious and against the door, I've had to climb into a locked toilet over the partition wall which didn't reach to the ceiling. This obviously isn't possible where there are solid walls.
I like that in single sex, communal toilets other women are around to help out.

Report
formerbabe · 11/01/2021 20:31

Definitely single sex. I'd imagine plenty of men would prefer single sex too.

Report
Changi · 11/01/2021 20:34
Report
Doughnut100 · 11/01/2021 20:39

I don't like the self contained ones. Men still piss everywhere. And there is not the safety of a female space where you can ask other females for help in an enclosed space away from males.

Report
zeitgeista · 11/01/2021 20:46

both, because as shown on here, you'll never please everyone.

Report
LizzieSiddal · 11/01/2021 20:49

Single sex. Cleaner, safer and less smelly!

Report
GoGina · 11/01/2021 20:49

Single sex!

Gender neutral will only attract perverts.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Miljea · 12/01/2021 22:10

Does anyone have a good template to help people who may struggle a bit to articulate what they want to say?

Report
Miljea · 12/01/2021 22:23

I've just responded. Thank you for bringing our attention to this.

Report
3beesinmybonnet · 28/01/2021 16:56

Bumping as the deadline for this is tomorrow.

OP posts:
Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.