AIBU to think there’s benefits to communal changing rooms

Completely agree about normalising women’s bodies. When I was 21 I used to go to a swimming pool where there were loads of very elderly ladies who would spend ages in the communal showers, and then sit and have a chat in the buff, completely unselfconscious. I was young, fit, very slim, and hiding under a towel. One day I decided to get over myself and stop hiding and I’ve never looked back. I am now nearly old enough to serve as an example to others.

Also it’s just easier if you don’t have to keep concealing yourself while you get dried and dressed. You don’t have to deliberately wave your tits around but if someone glimpses one it’s no big deal.

Muslim women and girls can use communal changing and swimming facilities as long as they are female only, just like they can take off hijab around nonMuslim girls and women but not males.

Many Muslims consider any form of public nudity sinful and so cannot use communal changing rooms. Some believe that Muslim women should only unveil in the presence of other Muslim women. Banning communal changing rooms would allow these women to access those services. It's wins all round really, except for those who want to be naked in public spaces or to look at other naked people.

I think being in communal swimming pool changing rooms and seeing some older women naked in the women's showers was very beneficial for me when I was a young girl

I'm still amazed at so many posters are prevented from seeing what a body looks like if it's covered by a swimsuit or a bikini.

I'm also not thrilled at the prospect of being some sort of specimen on display for young women struggling with the idea that all bodies are different. I don't actually have a hang up about my body image and never have. I simply don't want to be seen naked by or see other naked people.

I get the wish for the normalisation of women's bodies and the variety. However, I'd feel communal changing only would mean some women were put off exercise, and there are enough health issues in this country that would be lessened by greater exercise that we should not put obstacles out there. I'd also question whether or not for some women there are reasons of culture, heritage or religion that mean they want cubicles.

No, I'd rather change in a cubicle. Who would actively choose to change in front if strangers given the choice? And to be honest, I can't remember the last time I saw a communal changing room. Probably Mk One when I was about 13 and that got changed to cubicles.

I get what you mean and I agree. I think being in communal swimming pool changing rooms and seeing some older women naked in the women's showers was very beneficial for me when I was a young girl. I'm in my 20s and I don't have body image problems, not ashamed of pubic, leg or underarm hair, stretch marks or cellulite. I did get more self conscious as a teen but that's naturally gone as I got older. My mum found it surprising how all the girls in my high school class refused to shower after PE. I would have preferred it to be socially acceptable to use the shower in the changing room after getting sweaty honestly but I didn't feel able to if I was the only one showering.

My mum is the unselfconscious type I could chat to while she was in the bath like you are as a mum OP, it was incredibly helpful. She didn't shave or wax and I think she passed that lack of shame in her natural female form to me and I'm very grateful. It definitely helped to combat the harmful effects of being exposed to pornography, you will be definitely helping your girls feel comfortable in their bodies as they get older. I don't think it will be beneficial for girls if all communal female changing areas are removed, especially not in this awful world where girls are so often exposed to the filmed rapes of thousands of young, potentially surgically altered prostituted/trafficked women.

The choice of cubicles is absolutely fair but communal female gym/pool changing/showers are really not comparable to changing with males whatsoever and we all know that. Muslim women and girls can use communal changing and swimming facilities as long as they are female only, just like they can take off hijab around nonMuslim girls and women but not males.

I've never seen a communal changing room in a clothes shop, I assume we're talking about existing swimming pool and gym communal changing.

We still avoid the swimming pool with only mixed sex cubicles, mainly because they always smell of pee! Communal single sex one with a choice of some cubicles seem cleaner and I think safer.

I agree with so much of what you say...as seeing normal women doing normal bodily things like changing and showering and breastfeeding help growing girls not be ashamed of their changing bodies.

This below is a wonderful solution:

My preference would be single sex spaces with individual cubicles surrounding a central area so that people can have the choice & there is space for drying hair/putting your boots on or whatever outside of a wee cubicle. (I would consider those 8 & under to be eligible regardless of their sex)

You think Stonewall should pay to redevelop Marks & Spark's changing rooms or Duncan Ballantyne's gyms?

I’m really not understanding the problem here. Organisations like M&S already spend lots of money on accessibility because of a combination of legislation (lifts) and demand (parent and child parking). Many people need third spaces and because of this they are already common.

Don't worry I'm off now, it's been an interesting insight into what might happen if trans people campaigned for third spaces as we are continually told to do by GC people.

As mad as it sounds, to me there is a different atmosphere in a female only spaces. not mad at all it’s a real thing & particularly noticeable in conversation I think

ancientgran I grew up swimming in a similar sounding pool & was over joyed to find a similar one in my 20’s until the idiot Glasgow Council shut it down.

My preference would be single sex spaces with individual cubicles surrounding a central area so that people can have the choice & there is space for drying hair/putting your boots on or whatever outside of a wee cubicle. (I would consider those 8 & under to be eligible regardless of their sex)

[quote ChestnutStuffing]You wouldn't take a shit enmasse in a room would you?
The fights over toilet roll will make for interesting disputes!

Puts me in mind of this:

That paper flapping!

Surely this applies even more to third spaces. So you might say it's for men to sort out, but you appear to object to this kind of redevelopment based on cost and space.

Third spaces already exist in many public facilities for the benefit of people who care for somebody of the opposite sex. You really are inventing problems where they don't exist.

You wouldn't take a shit enmasse in a room would you?
The fights over toilet roll will make for interesting disputes!

Puts me in mind of this:

@ancientgran,

Yes. They should have guards at cubicle stations.

For sure.

That sounds lovely @ancientgran

As much as we all love another installment of JJ and the whataboutery, wasn't the wonderful idea of Stonewall applying for dosh for the purpose of specific spaces for trans people suggested yesterday?
Go on JJ, stop faffing about on here and get on with it.

So firstly the idea that it’s easy or an economical use of space to turn all communal changing rooms into single cubicles is false.

Surely this applies even more to third spaces. So you might say it's for men to sort out, but you appear to object to this kind of redevelopment based on cost and space. So if 'men' sort out third spaces and that carrieda cost presumably you'd object.

It certainly doesn;t fill me with any confidence that if trans people campaign for third spaces, something I've been told should happen countless times on FWR then that would have be widely supported by the GC movement.

I think it's now becoming clear that if trans people did campaign for third spaces then there are at least some in the gender critical movement that would oppose that

No, some women (regardless of whether they a have a clue what gender critical means), would still want single sex spaces. It doesn't have to be either or. My local council leisure centre is nothing special and it has both.

TitInATrance
I prefer communal changing rooms, trying to manoeuvre across the mixed-sex changing area at my local pool to use an individual shower then open a locker then find a cubicle is too awkward under cover of a towel.

This is my experience too. It's a complete faff.

When it's female only, you don't have to take extra steps to ensure privacy.

I prefer communal changing rooms, trying to manoeuvre across the mixed-sex changing area at my local pool to use an individual shower then open a locker then find a cubicle is too awkward under cover of a towel.

Been using the communal ‘ ladies change’ several times a week for twenty years and never seen any evidence of sanitary products (other than in the bin). People use the loo for that.

It’s absolutely not the done thing to look at other people’s genitals. I’m told the men have the same rule.