Parents rejecting gender neutral (unisex) toilets

My memory is a little hazy, but some time ago, maybe six years back, I was doing some research on barriers to "gender equality" around the globe. (Gender was commonly used term, though sex would be more fitting imo). From what I can remember all of the big global charities named lack of access to single sex toilet facilities as being one of the key barriers for women and girls in education and in the workplace. This was for safety, privacy and dignity reasons. I read back then about the history of women's toilets in the UK, how and why they were introduced and the pushback against them.

What I cannot understand now is how that could be noted, understood and accepted as a barrier to inequality that must be overcome in developing parts of the world, and then just a few years later we are now saying that mixed sex toilets are what is needed in the UK?

I haven't looked into it recently, but I wonder if it is still recognised that single sex facilities are needed. Are the two contradictory points both being argued for by the same groups of people? Or are we saying it was wrong, all that prior research was incorrect and lack of single sex toilets are no longer recognised as a barrier to women and girls? Or are we being racist or imperialistic or something like that and saying that it's fine for us to have mixed sex but not for those lot over there? Or is it entirely different groups arguing for two different things and only one voice being really heard?

Furthermore, I was under the impression that if the facility is mixed sex, the basinmustbe inside the cubicle

So was I. Over 8 years old isn't it?

And are sanitary bins inside every cubicle now?

Hang on, so the girls rinsing moon cups are a) in an area with boys and b) being filmed? Please tell me I’m wrong 😧

Sexual harassment and assaults are at unprecedented levels in schools.

So what does the school do? Make toilets mixed sex.

But lower the walls so no one can film, and make them taller so no one can peer over, and put in CCTV.

And they can't even see the misogyny.

Mixed sex facilities are responsible for 90% of all the assaults in facilities.

Sex segregation is the single most effective control of risk that you can have. But not only do they refuse to do that, they realise they are putting the girls at risk and so try to take sticking plaster steps.

Furthermore, I was under the impression that if the facility is mixed sex, the basin must be inside the cubicle.

It's one building yes..one building that has no safe single sex toilets for girls at all. It's all.mixed. I sincerely hope girls arent told off for being late to class should they have to make a dash to the other toilets or spend half the time.in the mixed sex ones cleaning the.piss off the seats.

It's also sexual harassment of the teachers too imo. The adults dont get a toilet either.

Sounds like a school to avoid

Changing the toilets to be mixed sex does not benefit girls in any way. So it shouldn't have been done.

< this!

8 girls' toilets were converted to mixed sex. This is detrimental to the girls.

Had additional unisex toilets been built, such that the (literally!) 'bums on seats' ratio of girls' toilets to girls was preserved, fair enough.

But this is taking away provision for the girls. There is no advantage to them in this. Not ok.

Hang on, so the girls rinsing moon cups are a) in an area with boys and b) being filmed? Please tell me I’m wrong 😧

Changing the toilets to be mixed sex does not benefit girls in any way. So it shouldn't have been done.

Staff have always been there supervising. CCTV has always been there. The only change is the classifying of the toilets.

Its one building. I've put my views across and the facts I have from personal experience and my friend who works there. I'm not throwing anyone under a bus how rude especially when my daughter attends there also. This is meant to be about debate not insulting someone who doesn't have the same view point.

And please stop @-ing me, I'm already on the thread.

Consider that if your sink area design requires CCTV then that may be a sign that it's not a very clever design at all

Yy I mean its often trotted out that it reduces bullying and its supervised etc

Where were these staff supervising when it was single sex given thAt these are all apparently more dangerous.

If they can get these staff to supervise and keep mixed toilets safe then get can do the same with the others?

Otherwise doubling the amount of people using a facility does not reduce the risk of anything? U less of course the girls are your "security" ? Wny is it always their responsibility to put themselves at risk and make.everyone else behave ?

So there's CCTV recording girls washing menstrual blood off their hands and out of their clothing if they don't have time whilst doing their hair, health and social studies (I imagine the hair studies will be popular with girls) to get over to the other building? You obviously are happy to throw teenage girls under the bus and that attitude stinks.

Consider that if your sink area design requires CCTV then that may be a sign that it's not a very clever design at all.

I feel so sorry for the students and parents who're worried about all this and who have to deal with smug "reassurances".

@ScapaFlo no theres no CCTV in the toilet cubicles - that would be seriously wrong! There is CCTV that can see the sink line. There is no way at all to see into the cubicles I promise!

What could possibly make young girls feel more comfortable at school than not even being able to go pee without being filmed, eh?

I'm torn between "the people behind this are misogynistic sadists" and "the people behind this are too stupid to walk and chew gum at the same time".

@theprodigalkittensreturns no I'm a parent and a user of the schools facilities. I had said before I'm glad this had been a good debate to be able to put forward different viewpoints. Your views are no more right or wrong than mine, but I won't be going into insulting or name calling someone else for having a different view. Ive used these toilets before whilst waiting for my daughter in gymnastics and will continue to use them if I need to. I certainly won't be exposed to anyone - I'll be behind a locked door.

As an aside, I think it would be useful to avoid the terms "gender neutral" and "unisex".

Much clearer to simply say "mixed sex".

CCTV IN THE LOOS? This just gets worse and worse

Are you their PR person? I mean, if so it's not working, I'm just curious.

@TheProdigalKittensReturn certainly not ill advised. They offer guided tours to the public, its part of the school culture. I remember requesting one before my daughter joined and I was surprised at what I saw, nothing like I'd heard and I sent her and then my son. Sure they'd rather be able to show people and remove worry than have people throw accusations and make assumptions.

Teenage girls tend to prefer not baring anything in front of random boys. That's rather the point.

(You're not very good at this.)

@NotTerNorCis and every comment is from parents and students or also from others who have only been presented with some of the information? Baring in mind the open plan nature and separate enclosed cubicles, as well as the CCTV and staffing at these areas the risks are no more than previously. I understand other peoples viewpoints as I've already said but have made mine clear and provided information on why.

Go visit the school, I'm sure they'd be happy to show you around on a tour

"Greetings, headmaster/headmistress! I am a random adult who would like a tour of the toilets used by your students!"

Speaking of ill advised...

Sensationalist journalism for all the points I've outlined including staff supervision and the height and size of the doors. But those points will continue to be ignored. Go visit the school, I'm sure they'd be happy to show you around on a tour rather than just making judgements on one article. Also what's more interesting is most of the schools in the city have the same set up of toilets. This is one of the last secondarys to make the change.