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Is it the norm for mums to look mortified when women change in the female changing room?

200 replies

Rosewaterblossom · 20/07/2021 18:00

I joined a fitness club this month and have using the gym. The club has a pool/sauna etc, the usual stuff, gym and classes. There are male, female and family changing facilities which you use whatever activity. The club does family swim times.

Today I went to the gym and had a shower/got changed after work when the family swim time was on. I was in the female changing room and a few women were getting changed naked etc, not prancing around showing off, I just mean boobs/fanjo out when changing.

I noticed a few of the mums looking mortified and getting their children to look the other way and even heard one "tut". Is this normal? I don't mean they should let their kids stand and stare which would be weird, but the mums looked very uncomfortable to the point it appeared the women getting changed in the nude was wrong.

Is this the normal?

Thanks.

OP posts:
crumpet · 20/07/2021 18:02

Prancing around the changing room is generally frowned upon, but just getting changed shouldn’t be!

WimpoleHat · 20/07/2021 18:02

Bonkers. It’s a communal changing room. If you don’t want your DC to see people getting changed, then don’t take them into a communal changing room….

Rosewaterblossom · 20/07/2021 18:03

He he no one was prancing around with their fanjo out! ,Grin

OP posts:
SoundBar · 20/07/2021 18:03

"Getting changed in the nude" as opposed to... getting changed while keeping clothes on?! Confused

Frazzledd · 20/07/2021 18:04

Fanjo 🤣🤣!!!

(Hopefully someone will tell you in a mo but that's ace! Stolen....Grin!!)

PuzzledObserver · 20/07/2021 18:04

I’d like to know how you get changed not in the nude.

Rosewaterblossom · 20/07/2021 18:05

As in stripping off and changing as opposed to doing the awkward putting underwear on with a towel wrapped around you

OP posts:
MrsWooster · 20/07/2021 18:05

At the private gym where the kids had swimming lessons, it would be perfectly normal for women to be nude while changing. As you say, not doing the can can, just changing.
The local pool has a Changing Village so you have to be in a closed cubicle-which have all been post-fitted with high divider screens to prevent peering /cameras over.

Whatinthelord · 20/07/2021 18:06

I don’t get the issue or understand why people would tut. Why do they think happens i. Changing rooms?

WorraLiberty · 20/07/2021 18:06

Well it sounds like it's normal for them 🤷‍♀️

Each to their own and all that.

Whatwouldscullydo · 20/07/2021 18:07

How do you change after swimming without showing anything Confused

The group change is just that. Use the cubicles if you don't want to see

WorraLiberty · 20/07/2021 18:08

@Frazzledd

Fanjo 🤣🤣!!!

(Hopefully someone will tell you in a mo but that's ace! Stolen....Grin!!)

You're new to Mumsnet aren't you? 👀😁
TheAwfuITruth · 20/07/2021 18:08

I've been tutted at in the past.

Honestly, it's like no one's ever seen a woman with her foot up on the bench, drying her muff with the hairdryer before...

Rosewaterblossom · 20/07/2021 18:09

I must admit It does feel uncomfortable getting changed in front of other people's children! I'm definitely not used to this scenario. I need to toughen up myself and not be so self conscious! It is the female changing area as opposed to the family one after all..

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 20/07/2021 18:09

To be fair, I would have got my children to look the other way otherwise they might seem to be staring. That said, I would be studiously looking away too as I'm really not one for "public" nudity 😂

It wouldn't be because I care what others are doing.

Rosewaterblossom · 20/07/2021 18:10

Fango is an old mumsnet word! Grin

OP posts:
MyCatDribbles · 20/07/2021 18:12

@TheAwfuITruth

I've been tutted at in the past.

Honestly, it's like no one's ever seen a woman with her foot up on the bench, drying her muff with the hairdryer before...

Grin
Rosewaterblossom · 20/07/2021 18:12

"Honestly, it's like no one's ever seen a woman with her foot up on the bench, drying her muff with the hairdryer before..."

🤣🤣🤣

That reminds of an old thread years ago when a woman was doing just that! Think it got put in classics.

OP posts:
Frazzledd · 20/07/2021 18:14

@Rosewaterblossom

Fango is an old mumsnet word! Grin
I'm not that new but I'm clearly missing out on Fanjo threads!!....Grin
Geamhradh · 20/07/2021 18:14

Weird. Unless the children were ten year old boys? Standing agog at the boobs and fanjos on show?
Because another old MN trope has always been that male children aged up to about 24 should be allowed in with their mammies Confused

Marmitemarinaded · 20/07/2021 18:14

What do you mean
“Is this normal?”

Theunamedcat · 20/07/2021 18:15

I've got to admit I hate open changing rooms i used a private gym once its all they had so I used the toilets for the duration of my membership and switched to the one with cubicles instead

RoseRedRoseBlue · 20/07/2021 18:16

I had a similar but different (!) experience yesterday at a branch of a well known gym chain. I was getting changed and a boy of about 8-9 wandered into the entrance of the adults only section and was staring at the 2-3 women getting changed. His Mum eventually realised and sent him to wait outside. What do people think the age cut off should be for having male children in changing rooms?

RoseRedRoseBlue · 20/07/2021 18:16

@Geamhradh

Weird. Unless the children were ten year old boys? Standing agog at the boobs and fanjos on show? Because another old MN trope has always been that male children aged up to about 24 should be allowed in with their mammies Confused
Just seen your post which ties in with mine quite nicely.
Rosewaterblossom · 20/07/2021 18:17

I'm getting the impression I'm going to come across a prancer aren't I! 😅 Then I'll be back saying why do women need to do 15 laps of the changing room naked!

OP posts:
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