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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Why do transpeople not campaign for unisex facilities?

65 replies

Cerealcomplainer · 17/02/2018 17:59

Or do they and I just haven't seen it?

If I was a transwoman with a penis my thoughts would go something like this.

'I don't want to use men's facilities because I don't feel like a man. I understand that some people feel that penises don't belong in the women's. But a unisex facility would mean I could use it and feel like a woman, and nobody who thought I was a man would be bothered I was in there'. Win win, surely?

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Myunicornfliessideways · 17/02/2018 18:19

and 3) for some people who would benefit from self ID whether or not they truly identify as trans: if it doesn't involve access to women and power over women's minds and bodies, where's the fun?

Cerealcomplainer · 17/02/2018 18:18

If a transwoman wants to use women's facilities because she doesn't want to use the mens, I have a degree of sympathy. A unisex facility should deal with that. If she wants to use it, rather than a unisex facility, for validation purposes then I am not terribly sympathetic to that.

But if there is such a campaign, then supporting it and saying so would show trans people some support? And those trans people that didn't want it would have to explain their position more clearly.

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mummybear701 · 17/02/2018 18:18

All adult TG I know are in favour of gender neutral toilets for the reasons you tried to give.

Myunicornfliessideways · 17/02/2018 18:18

Main reasons I've seen in TRA social media and literature:

  1. because that avoids removing the specific barrier seen as the target to break down. It doesn't give the same validation of 'you are legally a woman, and here you are amongst the other women in a specifically woman's space' (some of the nastier comments include the desire here to see women faced with the invasion of those spaces, an active punishment/domination kind of theme)

  2. because of the embarrassment and loss of dignity involved in changing in front of men (I have every sympathy with that, but biological women are not entitled to have those feelings equally validated or indulged, and a third space is fiercely rejected)

stitchglitched · 17/02/2018 18:17

Because it is more fun for TRAs to see how far they can push women's boundaries and they have found a so called 'progressive' way of doing so. I doubt some of the more vocal, clearly male ones I've seen feel remotely scared about using the men's toilets but they get off on making women feel uncomfortable.

TellsEveryoneRealFacts · 17/02/2018 18:14

Because they are a 'lady'.

grannytomine · 17/02/2018 18:13

What a waste of money, unisex toilets shouldn't need mens and womens as well.

BlindYeo · 17/02/2018 18:13

TRAs want the validation of using women's toilets. A unisex toilet doesn't cut the mustard validation-wise. A designated trans space is even worse from their point of view because it very clearly signposts that they are not female.

Cerealcomplainer · 17/02/2018 18:12

Well I would hope that a campaign for unisex facilities would be 'as well as' not 'instead of' so women would still have safe spaces.

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titchy · 17/02/2018 18:06

Apparently transwomen are women and therefore entitled to use female facilities. To use gender neutral facilities would mean accepting they are 'other' and therefore not proper women.

grannytomine · 17/02/2018 18:06

Suggesting unisex facilities doesn't tend to be well received by many women because we all need "safe" places.

JustHooking · 17/02/2018 18:06

IMO they cannot stand to see women having anything and it is more about reducing womens rights than fighting for trans rights

Cerealcomplainer · 17/02/2018 18:05

Well I could get on board with a unisex campaign. At least everyone knows what they are getting! Do you have links?

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SnowannaRainbow · 17/02/2018 18:04

I understand that some people feel that penises don't belong in the women's

Because the most vocal Transwomen seem to have no understanding of this at all and will shout bigot and issue death threats before attempting to understand why some women have issues with male genitals in female spaces.

strawberriesaregood · 17/02/2018 18:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.