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Original poster

I was mildly GC in front of my mates today. Holy moley, this has gone further than I realised.

118 replies

LeesPostersAreInFrames · 24/03/2019 18:42

I have a hobby group of friends, we met up today. The hobby attracts left wing types, of which I am one.

The subject of LGBT+ came up, and after a bit the subject of gendered toilets and changing rooms came up. I expressed that I felt women's spaces should be strictly for women only.

One friend said that the toilets in almost all of the schools, colleges and universities in the area had been changed to non-gender specific.

Another said that their training in several fashion retail spaces had been to allow a person to use the gendered changing room of their choice. There was a "larger" changing area (not allowed to say disabled), which they could offer to trans people, but they could go in the gendered room they felt most comfortable in. I asked what happened if anybody ever complained; they were trained to say they were sorry but policy was to allow people to use the space they felt most comfortable in. These spaces had curtains but they'd had problems previously with mobile phone cameras being used.

The girls in the schools had expressed discomfort at boys being able to hear the rustle of sanitary wear wraps as they used them.

My friends seemed surprised at my views, and I didn't go any further. I'm not really sure how to have these conversations, but it seems utterly essential and urgent.

It's in the UK, and it's much more widespread than I had thought.

Help. How do I get people questioning this stuff?

OP posts:
FamilyOfAliens · 24/03/2019 20:21

I also identify happily as a SJW

Really? Would never have guessed from your posts Grin

DpWm · 24/03/2019 20:17

What is the problem with being 'woke'? Personally I'd see that as a compliment. I wouldn't want to be alseep.
Lol
I'd rather be engaged in critical thinking rather than be suffering from insomnia, surviving on autopilot. Which is "woke".

MeAgainAgain · 24/03/2019 20:01

It bothers me as well that they seemed to say they'd heard girls were uncomfortable sharing with boys, but there was a sort of, 'what can you do? ' approach.

The fact of girls being uncomfortable isn't an opinion that you can agree or disagree with, surely?

Unless they take the line that the girls reaction is bigotry, no different to racism, and they should be educated not to express (or feel?) discomfort.

RoseAndRose · 24/03/2019 19:53

True. You weave lentils and knit yoghurt, I believe

And plait armpit hair

More seriously, you need to exist in a world where many people think you are wrong. Yes, make your views known, but evangelising only ever puts people's backs up. And people can be just as well informed as you but form different opinions based on that information.

RepealTheGRA · 24/03/2019 19:52

I know I’m missing the point, but what hobby attracts left wing types?
Singing?

AstonishedFemalePersonator · 24/03/2019 19:48

I know I’m missing the point, but what hobby attracts left wing types?

Weave your own granola.

ISaySteadyOn · 24/03/2019 19:47

True. You weave lentils and knit yoghurt, I believe.

Skyzalimit · 24/03/2019 19:46

*asleep, sp

Skyzalimit · 24/03/2019 19:45

Perhaps they are agreeing with you to be polite and stop the rant, qwertyskirty.

lottiebel123
What is the problem with being 'woke'? Personally I'd see that as a compliment. I wouldn't want to be alseep.
I also identify happily as a SJW

Charley50 · 24/03/2019 19:44

Lentil weaving you idiot Count! Grin

CountFosco · 24/03/2019 19:28

I know I’m missing the point, but what hobby attracts left wing types?

Lentil knitting Grin

ZuttZeVootEeeVro · 24/03/2019 19:27

Why do stores still have separate male and female changing rooms if they believe most customers are happy with mixed changing? Why not advertise them as mixed.

If all customers know that these changing rooms are mixed, how do they decide which they feel most comfortable in? What criteria are they using?

Cloven · 24/03/2019 19:27

If people acknowledge all these problems, why are they surprised at your views on them? Why do they think that cameras in the changing rooms and schoolgirls feeling uncomfortable and ashamed don't warrant a rethink? I don't really get the lack of dot-joining.

SleepingSloth · 24/03/2019 19:19

I know I’m missing the point, but what hobby attracts left wing types?

😬 Glad I wasn't the only one wondering that.

How do I get people questioning this stuff

Well the subject came up and they were surprised by your views. So they probably didn't feel the same as you do. Not everyone has a problem with these things and I'm afraid you can't change that.

Personally I think as long as cubicles are floor to ceiling with lockable doors then it's fine. I don't like curtains in changing rooms no matter who's around.

WSPU · 24/03/2019 19:08

I know I’m missing the point, but what hobby attracts left wing types?

lottiebel123 · 24/03/2019 19:06

there's this complete acceptance of received 'woke' wisdom.
When people actually stop, think and reflect on what that received wisdom is, they realise that the Emperor is indeed naked.

MockerstheFeManist · 24/03/2019 19:05

...So males can change in the changing room 'where they feel most comfortable?'

What is this? Porky's 3?

qwertyskirty · 24/03/2019 18:56

I'm no expert but I've had a few approaches from 'accidentally gone off on one for twenty minutes in the pub' to 'softly softly catchy monkey' to just a very straightforward 'obviously women need single sex changing spaces who on earth would think otherwise?'.
Once I've had a reasonable chat with people they are 99/100 in agreement. However, I've found this often doesn't equate to them actually getting fired up enough to either feel angry or to take action. I'm looking at ways of engaging people a bit more directly.
People these days seem subdued by instagram and the grind of work.