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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be surprised by this?

68 replies

velvetspoon · 23/02/2014 19:59

So I've joined a local (newly-opened) gym.

Went for first time today. All spotlessly clean etc.

But the showers were communal one large tiled area, off the changing room, with lots of shower heads. No cubicles of any kind!

Luckily there was no-one else in there, so I was able to shower in private. But not sure if I can face doing so at busy times.

Is this the norm now? I was really surprised by it. Admittedly I haven't been in a gym or similar in years, but I'm sure they used to have some sort of cubicles in the showers to afford even a tiny bit of privacy!

OP posts:

Nocomet · 24/02/2014 14:46

I'm so shortsighted I don't give a fuck, I can't see other women's bodies and I can't see if they are looking at mine.

You can't shower "your bits" properly with a fixed shower head anyway.

diddl · 24/02/2014 14:49

It's like this at the open air swimming pool I go to!

Most of us strip off.

Supposed to keep costume on-how do you shower like that??

The lockers are outside & it's not unusual for men & women to come out of their showers & get dried & dressed near the lockers.

farewellfigure · 24/02/2014 14:52

Mine was like this. I was stunned then quickly got used to it. Open shower and changing rooms. There were no cubicles at all. Everyone was pretty free and easy really. Women used to bend over to dry their feet and you could practically see what they had had for breakfast... right in your face! I'm fat and flabby too but you just get used to it and no-one stares!

RuleBritannia · 24/02/2014 14:52

It's not so long ago that dress shops had communal changing room (remember Etam, anyone?). I stopped shopping there. Eventually, individual cubicles returned.

ninah · 24/02/2014 14:56

it wouldn't worry me if it was women only
I walked into the men's shower room at my old gym once by mistake. I was fully dressed with briefcase. They ... weren't

ninah · 24/02/2014 14:57

oh, just noticed it was you velvet!

SinglePringle · 24/02/2014 15:00

Doesn't bother me in the slightest. It's like this at the yoga place I go to. Everyone walks round the single sex changing rooms in the buff. No one stares.

waterlego6064 · 24/02/2014 22:55

farewell I am comfortable in communal changing rooms, but that sounds a bit much! I tend to face the wall/lockers and just get on with it but avoid any enthusiastic bending over- I think giving people a gynaecological view is a bit much.

Original poster

velvetspoon · 25/02/2014 20:10

Just to update, I went again yesterday - * couple of women in the communal changing room changing into gym gear (as was I) however the shower again was completely empty, so was able to shower undisturbed (albeit with my bag and towel in the doorway again!)

OP posts:

Herecomesthesciencebint · 25/02/2014 20:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JennyOnAPlate · 25/02/2014 20:37

The showers at my 2 local council run gyms are like this. I would be showering at home!

whois · 25/02/2014 20:57

It's reasonably normal to have communal showers with other women.

No one is looking at you you know and everyone is in the same boat!

It's quite sad that people are so against seeing other people naked, I think it perpetuates they myth that you should have to look like a super model any anything other than that isn't nice or normal.

whois · 25/02/2014 20:59

I would have a communal shower if I was on my period though, that seems a bit intimate for me.

whois · 25/02/2014 21:00

wouldn't, not would!

HellonHeels · 25/02/2014 23:27

All the gyms I've belonged to had shower cubicles but the bikram yoga studio I use has communal (single sex) showers. I did feel a bit uncomfortable first time but now I don't care.

I reckon you'll get used to it. Never noticed anyone staring and I don't stare myself either. I am 40+ and fat

sydlexic · 25/02/2014 23:31

The gym I go to has individual rooms with showers and space to dress. Communal is too much like school.

Original poster

velvetspoon · 26/02/2014 08:05

We never had showers at school so this is my first communal shower experience. Think at my age I may be too old to get used to it!

But if it carries on like it is so far with no-one else using it I may be ok :)

OP posts:

MostWicked · 26/02/2014 14:36

It's quite sad that people are so against seeing other people naked, I think it perpetuates they myth that you should have to look like a super model any anything other than that isn't nice or normal.

I don't agree that it's all about body image. I know it is a problem for many women, but I don't feel the same, I'm pretty body confident and would feel fine in the skimpiest of bikinis, even changing is fine, I just want to have a private shower!

For all of you who think there should be no issue with it, would it be fine to remove all the cubicles from the toilets too? After all, it's all normal and no-one else would be looking.

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