Words matter: unisex toilets are mixed sex

[MsTiggywinkletoyou]

I propose a fightback for clear language. "Unisex" makes no sense. Some words are inherently confusing to the general public, and are best avoided. Flammable/inflammable being synonyms not antonyms, for example - a confusion with potentially lethal results - so sensible powers that be got together to encourage the use of "flammable" and the gradual withering away of "inflammable", on clothing labels and paint tins and aerosols and what have you.

"Uni" means "one". "Unisex toilets" makes no sense, because there is more than one sex. What is the best, clearest term? Mixed sex? All genders? Open to all? Everyone welcome?

Not all genders because all provision that is genuinely single sex should be open to all genders (as in gender identity) who are of that sex.

I really don't understand the usefulness of discriminating between people by gender. I can't think of an area where it is helpful.

never gender - toilets are not segregated by gender, they are segregated by sex.

however, I don't see the point of changing ti from unisex - regardless of the original Latin derivation, the OED definition of 'unisex' is very clear: Designed to be suitable for both sexes.

Unisex does mean one usually, as in designed for one single occupant, completely enclosed with sink basins etc all enclosed for single use.

Someone told me on here recently that ‘unisex’ = single occupancy like disabled whereas mixed sex was a multi occupancy free for all?

The problem with the term "single occupancy" is that these larger fully enclosed toilets are designed for more than one person. Either a parent and children (babies, toddler, older children), or an adult with mobility difficulties and their carer (with space for wheelchair transfer).

I used to say gender neutral out of laziness -- I now say mixed sex. What GC women are demanding is "single sex".

Another term we should be careful about imo is transwomen/transmen vs. trans women and trans men.
The latter implies that they are women, just a certain kind of women, like short women, Polish women, disabled women etc.
Transwomen says it like it is:not really women, but biologically men who are "transgender".

unisex makes sense to me as something that can be used by either sex, but not both at once.
So a unisex toilet is a separate room with a toilet in. If it was toilet cubicles I would describe it as mixed sex.

Thanks for posting this topic for discussion OP.

I posted here several months ago before a work trip to Ireland and wrongly used the term "gender neutral' when asking about the likelihood of encountering mixed sex toilets while I was away.
Words do matter and phrases like this are beginning to slip into my vocabulary without critical thought.

Unisex is fine

It's been around for yonks and I don't think anyone has any difficulty with the meaning, nor the difference in meaning to monosex.

Oh my God

"Hello, I'd like to book a table for 8 at your expensive trendy restaurant, but before I do, could I just check whether ..."

How can you best complete that question such that the stranger on the end of the line (who may not speak English as their first language) understands your question with crystal clarity?

A. ...you have single-sex toilets?
B. ... your toilets are ...???
C. ????