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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Transitioning man in the womens open changing room and communal showers at local swimming pool

207 replies

mummymeister · 03/05/2023 11:21

I have been following the debates on trans men in women only spaces with interest. But, because I live in a very rural area in the back of beyond, I mistakenly thought it wouldnt be something that I had to deal with. However, today at our local pool, at the early morning lane swimming session, a person who was obviously a man in a costume with stubble and hairy chest came into the womens changing room which is open with no cubicle options and into the open shower, again no cubicle options. Almost 100% of the women at the early morning swim shower with no costume on, including me. We did politely suggest that he should use either the family room that has a shower or the limited mobility room that also has a shower. both would be empty early morning as no children allowed etc. Other than asking the company that owns the pool (ex Local authority swimming pool) what else can I do if this happens again. He was adamant he had every right to do this and several women just wrapped themselves in towels and left. any suggestions? I am struggling to see how the feelings and rights of one person trump those of the 8/10 of us using the facility this morning.

OP posts:
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Thelnebriati · 03/05/2023 11:47

I don't think that people should use the disabled facilities unless they are disabled, and I'm, pretty sure family rooms are for people with children. So single adults shouldn't be in there.

Lockheart · 03/05/2023 11:46

midgemadgemodge · 03/05/2023 11:23

He does not have every right

The pool needs to make it clean the changing rooms are single sex ( birth sex ) as per the equality act

OP said it was a trans man, so presumably someone who is female. Unless it's a mix up and it's a transwoman (i.e. a biological male)?

mummymeister · 03/05/2023 11:38

I think this caught the staff completely unawares as well as they didnt really know what to say or do by which time the man had changed and left. Its going to happen again so I just want to have a plan in place of what to do and how to react quickly whilst also knowing what my rights are in relation to this issue. Personally I have no problem with gender neutral/shared toilets but an open changing room with no cubicles and a single large open shower area is not acceptable. I now have the written policy from the company which operates the facility and have taken a photo copy of it and will take it with me tomorrow. It has really put me off going but determined to sort this out now. I think some sort of relabelling of the two private changing rooms is necessary and will be suggesting that next time I go so its clear that transpeople undergoing reassignment should use the family room (with door and shower) or the limited mobility room with door and shower.

OP posts:
Grammarnut · 03/05/2023 11:38

The local athletics centre, where I go for a slimming club, has notices on the changing room doors saying that no-one over the age of 8 is allowed to go into the opposite sex changing room. These have appeared quite recently - not there in January, when I first started going. Very pleased to see this and that they are still there. OP might ask the manager to make this clear at the swimming pool, quoting the EA2010 which specifically allows such single sex spaces.

midgemadgemodge · 03/05/2023 11:23

He does not have every right

The pool needs to make it clean the changing rooms are single sex ( birth sex ) as per the equality act

SirVixofVixHall · 03/05/2023 11:22

Did you complain to the manager ?

Beowulfa · 03/05/2023 11:22

Did you speak to the staff on duty and ask for the manager's details?

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