I just read the thread about boys failing in education because they do not "fit" into the gender-biased world of education and the article that argues how, in fact, women/girls do not "fit" into the gender biased whole world. It's a very thought-provoking and intellectual thread but it made me think of this rather less intellectual subject so I decided my thoughts might be better served on a new thread!
Anyway, one clear example of where women don't "fit" into the male norm expected by society and, as a result, have to suffer is, as I'm sue we've all experienced, that of public toilets. At the weekend I was standing patiently in a queue of women at a well-known chain of coffee shops outside the ladies while the gents was empty. Desperate and cross, I suggested we take matters into our own hands and we all began to use the gents as well, watching the door for eachother and offering to issue a warning should a real gent need to go! The male coffee shop assistant was very cross and told us we were not allowed to do this (on the basis of "health and safety" of all things which did give us a giggle!!) but we carried on anyway! He went to "get the manager" but by the time manager came we had all finished and order was restored!!
What do you think? Should we use the gents as a matter of course? Were we in the wrong?