Communal changing at gym- am I weird?

[TinselAngel]

The gym I’ve joined recently has a large communal changing area with just a few cubicles. I seem to be one of the only people (women) who doesn’t want to get changed in the communal changing room and uses the cubicles.

Is everybody else really fine with getting their kit off in (single sex) public?

Mind you I am fatter than the average gym goer which doesn’t help.

I've been using gym communal changing rooms for about 35 years and have never once seen someone's genitalia, nor shown mine! What on earth do you do when getting dressed or undressed?!

I have to be in a communal area I can’t be in a cubical. I try my best to not flash anyone but I’m old and fat. Soz n all.

Ignore me I thought it was communal as in everyone
I strip off happily in single sex

On the question of seeing someone's "downstairs,' there is a woman who blow dries hers 😅

It doesn't bother me. Only there to use the gym. Whether I see a stranger naked isn't really an issue.

Maybe the more self conscious people don’t get changed at the gym.

I always use the cubicle - I have no desire to see complete strangers naked bodies, nor do I wish them to see mine.

I'm aware that doesn't bother others though, and that's fine - means I get a cubicle.

I’ve not got a problem with people changing in the communal area obviously. I’m just surprised that people choose to.

I tend to dry off a bit in the shower cubicle, put my underwear on under a towel in the changing room then I'm not bothered. It isn't a gym for the super fit though, local authority so big mix and lots of older women.

My gym only has communal changing. Showers are cubicles. It’s super easy to undress, put towel round, shower, towel down and come back out. Pants on under towel, bra on (really don’t care who sees boobs), then get dressed. No one has ever seen my vag in this arrangement. Everyone else does something very similar!

Nope I want a cubicle.

It’s never bothered me, but from previous threads on here, I’d expect more people to agree with you than me.

I used to go to a pool years ago with no communal changing at all, only cubicles. I think this is more down to the layout of the building than modesty issues though.

I used to feel vaguely uncomfortable but decided I wanted to not care. I have now been at this gym for about 5 years and don't give two figs (or indeed two fig leaves).

I'm 55 now and I've become less self-conscious about nudity. But its whatever you're comfortable with.

I prefer changing in private and not having to see other people change.

our gym is mixed sex for storage lockers with proper private changing rooms, not just cubicles, all around. There is no changing allowed in the open area.

I go to DLL. There are a few cubicles but most women don't bother. Much more space out of a cubicle, nice large flat benches by the lockers. So people get changed near their locker in a nice discreet manner, no wandering around naked.

Generally unbothered in single sex change rooms. Change/ dry off under towel then quickly get dressed, nothing is uncovered for more than a few seconds, no one gets to see anything exciting!

Only times I've chosen a cubicle are period / bodily function related (I don't want to deal with a pad in public) or if I'm on my own with a particular gang of loud and obnoxious teens that have made me feel uncomfortable in the past. Both rare now!

I cycle to work and we have no alternative but a communal changing room. I’m overweight and don’t think I’ve got something that the other women haven’t. Plus it’s nice to chat about our rides or runs to work - I quite like it. I towel off in the cubicle but it’s too small and wet to put even a pair of knickers on in there and due to shit design (and they are new so no excuse) anything hung on the back of the door would get soaked.

When I am reincarnated I am coming back as an active travel changing room designer because men can’t do it for shit.

I would always have hidden in a cubicle or under a towel, but then I moved abroad and lived in various countries where nudity isn't a big deal and now I couldn't care less who sees me shower or change in a single sex space.

Yea it’s a good enough reason, although I wasn’t asking anybody to justify themselves.

You said you were surprised that people choose to.

That isn’t really any of your business.

but. People may, like me, have perfectly valid reasons that are traumatic.

not everybody is the same. Funny old thing.

If there was only communal changing, I either wouldn't go to the gym or would change/shower at home. No problem if other women want to get changed in the communal area but its not for me.

My local swimming pool in Sweden has communal (single sex) showers where you have shower naked before you use the pool. Nobody really bats an eyelid - although these days I have to use a different pool with disabled changing rooms as I need DH's help to shower.

I think it’s human nature to be mildly surprised when people act differently to yourself and to wonder why.

I hadn’t thought about people not feeling safe in confined spaces, so I’ve learned something by starting the thread.

Take your knickers off I assume? 🤷‍♀️