Page 20 | Non Binary Gym Changing Rooms

NevermindNelson · 2023-11-13T19:09:00+00:00

I’ve just had an email from a gym I use explaining that their changing rooms are going to become gender neutral. I don’t even know where to start to reply. The email states that they’re proud to do this. I want to reply with the reasons that I’m cancelling my membership, but all I’ve got so far is, “What, seriously?” Maybe I should just send this - Just under 90 per cent of complaints regarding changing room sexual assaults, voyeurism and harassment are about incidents in unisex facilities. Because they have made the changing rooms unisex, haven’t they? Edited to correct the term as ‘gender neutral’

Nn9011 · 14/11/2023 09:35

No I'm being reasonable. Gender neutral changing rooms exist everywhere and for some reason anti-trans nonsense has created a fear of them. Other countries have mixed areas with no issues either. For example, if you go camping in France - most campsite toilets/showers are gender neutral. Bodies are bodies and it's not a big deal.
You're far more likely to be assaulted in your own home by someone you know than by a stranger in a changing room. Not saying it's never happened but the risk is so so low. It's a moral panic creates by the media and right wing politicians and people need to see how they're worrying about something that has existed for decades.

Rightsraptor · 14/11/2023 09:35

Deliberately goady, I'd say.

This is about men and women sharing spaces where vulnerability is an issue. Why are you making it a trans issue?

MrsOvertonsWindow · 14/11/2023 09:33

Nn9011 · 14/11/2023 09:29

You're being absolutely ridiculous. My local council swimming pool has had gender neutral changing rooms since I was a baby and there has absolutely never been an issue with it. Only problem you have with it is because you're anti-Trans. Wise up.

Here you are Nn9011. Some factual data for you to educate yourself with:

https://fairplayforwomen.com/unisex-changing-rooms-put-women-in-danger/

Unisex changing rooms put women in danger | Fair Play For Women

There is unequivocal evidence that unisex changing rooms are more dangerous for women and girls than single-sex facilities. Get the facts

https://fairplayforwomen.com/unisex-changing-rooms-put-women-in-danger

Anothernewname123 · 14/11/2023 09:32

Nn9011 · 14/11/2023 09:29

You're being absolutely ridiculous. My local council swimming pool has had gender neutral changing rooms since I was a baby and there has absolutely never been an issue with it. Only problem you have with it is because you're anti-Trans. Wise up.

LOL.

So you are ok in your council changing room, that means the rest of the world has to be ok with whatever changing and showering facilities are provided?

Are you being deliberately dim or deliberately goady? 🤔

Rightsraptor · 14/11/2023 09:31

But it's only flashing, as in a crime, if the flasher intends to cause alarm. So there's endless scope for these wretches to pretend the towel slipped/she was making it up/she shouldn't have been looking.

There's also the simple fact that women don't (generally) want to be looked at by men in those circumstances.

Nn9011 · 14/11/2023 09:29

You're being absolutely ridiculous. My local council swimming pool has had gender neutral changing rooms since I was a baby and there has absolutely never been an issue with it. Only problem you have with it is because you're anti-Trans. Wise up.

Rightsraptor · 14/11/2023 09:28

The Old Vic theatre in London raised funds to provide new loos, promising more for women, and then built mixed sex ones with less provision for women than before. Not sure how that worked out - cubicles vs urinals, maybe? Anyway, not good.

The people who'd given money for this were not best pleased.

pronounsbundlebundle · 14/11/2023 09:26

A good question would be what will they do to prevent the crime of flashing in their changing rooms if they're mixed sex.

pronounsbundlebundle · 14/11/2023 09:23

Waitingfordoggo · 14/11/2023 07:44

This is ridiculous. Glad you are planning to leave and tell them why (though what a shame you have to leave and find another gym).

I think they’ll find their membership dropping pretty rapidly once this change is enacted.

Some I’m sure will stay because they’ll want to demonstrate how very inclusive and modern and groovy they are, but what’s the betting the majority of them will stick to the original rules- ie, the men will still go to what was originally the men’s room and the women will stick to their original space. Awful though that none of them will have the right to object if someone of the opposite sex starts using their space.

Yes, all the decent men will stick to the former men's which leaves the boundary transgressing men who don't give a shit about women's feelings going where there are a majority of women.

You're safer if there's only one truly mixed sex changing room as at least then there's a chance of a decent bloke stepping in when the local flasher decides to use the facilities for his own enjoyment / access to a pool of victims that can't easily escape.

GrumpyPanda · 14/11/2023 09:16

TakeMe2Insanity · 13/11/2023 19:12

I could understand if gyms created a 3rd space for those who want to gender neutral/fluid/whatever they want, but those of us who want to remain as we were born ee should have that choice.

Unless of course they go down the “family” cubicle route, so big space, lots of cubicles with locks…

Well my gym - or any gym I've ever attended - has open-plan changing next to open-plan showers next to small single sex sauna. Impossible to replicate with cubicles, and how would you handle the sauna?

OP threaten immediate cancelation but also maybe talk to other members first. A joint letter may have some effect.

Original poster

NevermindNelson · 14/11/2023 09:10

Question has been sent, let’s see what we get back.

OP posts:

HoneyButterPopcorn · 14/11/2023 09:06

corlan · 13/11/2023 19:18

I'd call them 'mixed sex' changing rooms - which is what they are. Terms like 'unisex' or 'gender neutral' tend to disguise the danger they pose to women.

I always correct this. Let’s not be coy - it’s sex not gender. No way I’m hell would I use mixed sec changing rooms ffs!

It’s crappy enough to have to change and shower in an open space where I have to take off my glasses and can’t see a thing! Add into that some random blokes… they are having a laugh.

Original poster

NevermindNelson · 14/11/2023 09:05

AlisonDonut · 14/11/2023 09:02

I'd probably go back and ask them to clarify what this means.

Are they making both rooms 'gender neutral' in that males will still use a male room no matter what gender they feel they are, and female the same. Or are they actually making all rooms 'mixed sex' in which case they really need to clarify this because of [then quote the data given] as it increases the risks of assault, particularly sexual assault.

And bearing in mind this increased risk, what steps are they taking to mitigate this increased risk and how are they informing all their customers of this risk and the management of this?

Thank you, you’re right, I need to clarify what they mean. Will send an email and share the response when I get it.

OP posts:

Original poster

NevermindNelson · 14/11/2023 09:03

@NoMoreRedWineforFreda Wow, that’s pretty eye-opening, thank you. I’m leaving because of the risk the gym has created, because as has been mentioned, the decent blokes won’t go anywhere near the women’s changing room.

OP posts:

AlisonDonut · 14/11/2023 09:02

I'd probably go back and ask them to clarify what this means.

Are they making both rooms 'gender neutral' in that males will still use a male room no matter what gender they feel they are, and female the same. Or are they actually making all rooms 'mixed sex' in which case they really need to clarify this because of [then quote the data given] as it increases the risks of assault, particularly sexual assault.

And bearing in mind this increased risk, what steps are they taking to mitigate this increased risk and how are they informing all their customers of this risk and the management of this?

Original poster

NevermindNelson · 14/11/2023 09:01

lifeturnsonadime · 14/11/2023 08:39

Good luck OP. You've had some excellent advice on here.

I have and I’m very grateful for every single response.

OP posts:

Original poster

NevermindNelson · 14/11/2023 08:59

@EtiennePalmiere Thank you. No, I can’t go back.

They’ve done funding rounds and this feels like a big change to what was offered, so there might be some peed off investors.

OP posts:

Original poster

NevermindNelson · 14/11/2023 08:57

@Catsanfan No, it’s about a boutique gym (apologies for term) being inclusive if I’ve read the email right.

OP posts:

NoMoreRedWineforFreda · 14/11/2023 08:56

https://www.met.police.uk/cy-GB/SysSiteAssets/foi-media/metropolitan-police/disclosure_2023/february_2023/reported-offences-gyms-2018-2022.xlsx

The Met got 1-2 reports of a sexual offence in a changing room every single week for the last 4 years.

Original poster

NevermindNelson · 14/11/2023 08:55

@EnoughIsay I’m on that one 🙂

OP posts:

Original poster

NevermindNelson · 14/11/2023 08:54

ApocalipstickNow · 13/11/2023 22:13

What’s your gyms policy on children?

Some gyms allow membership from 13, some 16, 17. It varies but some gyms will allow under 18s. If they allow under 18s do they think mixed sex changing rooms are good policy?

Just checked their policy, no one under 18 allowed in any classes.

OP posts:

NoMoreRedWineforFreda · 14/11/2023 08:45

Please do tell them! Members of my local LA owned leisure centre forced a U turn on a very similar announcement a couple of years ago (we were able to argue that competitors had unisex changing facilities so anyone who needed that was already provided for locally).

IIRC someone did an FOI on voyeurism at swimming baths, which might have swayed them! I will try and dig it out.

thirdfiddle · 14/11/2023 08:41

Unless they're GC themselves and what they're trying to say is it's /gender/ neutral but still single sex? (Clutches at straws)
Mixed sex changing rooms is nuts, they won't have any women members left.

lifeturnsonadime · 14/11/2023 08:39

Good luck OP. You've had some excellent advice on here.

grafittiartist · 14/11/2023 08:19

I agree that men will be uncomfortable too.
My husband refused to use a gender neutral (their description) loo, as there were teenage girls in it. He's been taught not to invade their space- rightly!