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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Can I ask a question about toilets?

141 replies

Katnisnevergreen · 26/03/2017 13:36

This is a genuine question I've been mulling over for a while. I understand that people dislike the proposals about gender identity and the impact that this will have on female spaces. I understand why some women don't like the idea of sharing a public toilet with a man presenting as a woman for whatever reason. What I am curious about is female to make transgender people, and how women feel about these individuals using a female bathroom. Not on a biological level as i appreciate that they were born female and therefore are the same as us. But what about those women transitioning to male or living as male who have taken hormones to make them look male?
With the arguments against transgender people using their chosen gender rather than their biological sex, how would you feel as a woman sharing a toilet with someone who at least on the surface, looks male?
This is genuinely not a goading or troll post, I am interested to hear what people have to say and how they feel about it.

OP posts:
Gallavich · 26/03/2017 17:32

Trans women can't use men's loos because statistically the change they would be raped or attacked there is very very high. Massively higher than the chance of a transwoman raping a ciswoman in a ladies loo which is almost unheard of

Where is your evidence for that?

NotCarylChurchill · 26/03/2017 17:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NotCarylChurchill · 26/03/2017 17:11

This reply has been deleted

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Prawnofthepatriarchy · 26/03/2017 17:08

I've seen this issue discussed by gender non-conforming lesbians - not transmen - and they said that if a woman looks somewhat askance at them they usually make some remark and the other woman relaxes as soon as they hear their female voice.

I'm not scared of other women regardless of their appearance.

Gallavich · 26/03/2017 16:56

Trans men rarely pass as male but if they do, they can use the men's easily. Most trans men are clearly female so I wouldn't bat an eyelid at them using the women's loos even if they were wearing boots and a plaid shirt.
Trans women pass as female even more rarely so unless they can genuinely not be distinguished from a woman then they can use the men's or the disabled loos.

Lessthanaballpark · 26/03/2017 16:52

I don't care about transwomen or transmen going to the Ladies. I just care about the sports and crime statistics issues.

InvisibleKittenAttack · 26/03/2017 16:50

In my view it's not about the trans woman, it's all the men who will have access to female space by the phrase "I identify as a woman".

The situation could have changed, but I understood the vast majority of trans people are male to female, so the "trans men in female or male bathroom" is not much of an issue, mainly because there's not all that many of them.

dangermouseisace · 26/03/2017 16:46

Maybe I'm odd, but I don't mind genuine trans women in female toilets, who are going through the process of transitioning under medical supervision. It would be better if they could use male loos but we are where we are. What I am more nervous about is men with criminal intent being able to 'self identify' as women and abusing the system for their own agenda. It would be a danger to all women and trans women. I wouldn't have a problem with trans man in female toilets.

If you think about what makes you vulnerable in the loo if a man is there and what we'd most be worried about i.e. Rape (your knickers are round your ankles after all!) a trans man isn't going to be doing that due to the lack of functioning penis. Trans men more follow female heights/frames (hips/hands etc) etc so even if they 'pass', if they were in a female loo you could see that they could be female.

DJBaggySmalls · 26/03/2017 16:44

I dont care if Trans people use the bathroom. I've used the mens bathroom when the queue has been too long and its never been a problem.

I do care if self identity legislation allows male predators access to women only spaces.
I do care when women are told they are being oppressive for not wanting to share a women only space with someone with a penis.

QuentinSummers · 26/03/2017 15:18

Have you just implied I'm homophobic?
No, just preempting the common follow up about why aren't I concerned about lesbians in women's spaces because women attack people too. I apologise if that's not what you were going to say. Have had too many of these conversations.
I don't really know what you are talking about when you say trying to change people's minds. I think I've been quite clear Confused

Datun · 26/03/2017 15:17

And it's not about passing, or not passing. If the protocols are that women use women's toilets and men use the men's, any time you saw someone looking a little masculine, your first default would be they are a masculine woman.

The only reason to question it now is because it is up for question.

Datun · 26/03/2017 15:10

Transmen are women. Therefore welcome in women's spaces. If they want to use men's spaces, that's up to them and whether the men mind. Of course, you never hear about men minding, because a woman in their space is not the slightest bit threatening to them. Either intrinsically or perceptually.

I'm sure if men had an issue with it, we would hear all about it. But we don't.

Katnisnevergreen · 26/03/2017 15:10

Are you ducking kidding me? Have you just implied I'm homophobic??? What is wrong with you. I genuinely cannot believe that you have just put those words into my post.
I asked a genuine question which I haven't had a good answer to.

If you see a make looking person in the ladies loo, how would you react?
If, as people keep saying, people should use the toilets of their biological sex, what does that mean for transgender males? Do you really think that because they can 'pass' (what a hideous term in itself) that you would change their minds. Does that work both ways?

OP posts:
QuentinSummers · 26/03/2017 14:52

Read my post. If they are behaving entirely normally I wouldn't give them a second look regardless. I will be able tell they are male if they are acting like a perv.
Don't come back acting like lesbians and trans men also perv on women in the same way, it's homophobic bullshit.

Katnisnevergreen · 26/03/2017 14:30

But my question is, how will you know? How can you, at a glance, tell of a person is male, or transgender?

OP posts:
QuentinSummers · 26/03/2017 14:26

Don't care. I see the "trans men in women's bathroom" meme as manipulative in the extreme. I assume most trans men who pass will be using the men's.
My issue is with males in spaces with vulnerable women, purely on the basis they self identify as a woman, whatever the heck that means. I want to be able to retain the right to ask some male pervert to leave a woman's space if he is making me uncomfortable without running the risk of me being arrested for a hate crime.
Trans men are female so they are welcome in women's spaces.