Unisex Toilets

[PanamaPattie]

My employer has emailed everyone that as from the 5th November, all the toilets in our building will become unisex.

I'm am very unhappy with this situation. How would you cope with this change if this happened in your workplace?

AIBU?

[charlestonchaplin]

Why are people describing completely different scenarios from the OP and declaring that there is therefore no problem with unisex toilets? It's not smart and it's selfish to only consider your needs and wants.

[astoundedgoat]

No problem at all for me, so long as the men are fully expected - forced - to practice good hygiene. This has to be enforced. It can't be women cleaning up men's piss at work so that they can use the loo.

There are unisex loos in my dh's office and they're always spotless. It's possible that when men know a loo is unisex they up their game?

They kind of have to be built as such through - fully enclosed, sink in the cubicle etc. Is your office doing this OP?

We have lots of gender battles on our hands right now, and unisex lols are prettty low down on my list.

[WhichSchoolForDS]

I'd be more than happy with unisex toilets.

[Puggles123]

As long as there’s sanitary bins in each one (guessing there might not be as it would double the cost having double the amount); but can imagine it would be annoying forgetting which ones don’t have them and ending up having to carry it round until you find one. Other than that, as long as they are cubicles not too fussed. A lot of men’s toilets at work have urinals, are they bothering to rip all of those out? Essentially more the logistics that Interest me.

[RiverTam]

If it's cubicles with gaps, no way. Fully enclosed with sink and sanitary bin is better. I've worked somewhere with unisex building but it was a house converted into an office so the unisex loos were single rooms, not a row of cubicles, enclosed or otherwise.

I bet the men will object once they realise a sanitary bin has to be crammed into every cubicle.

wonder why they've decided to do this?

[Rufusthebewilderedreindeer]

charles

I agree

The OP is not talking about individual rooms/cubicles as you would have in your own home or cafes

She is talking about a traditional ladies toilet which is in 90% of shops and large offices

[Rufusthebewilderedreindeer]

So in effect if the urinals are not ripped out as puggle mentions women will have less choice and MORE queues potentially

[fiftyandfat]

The only acceptable unisex loos I have come across were in a conference centre.
Row of 10 individual cubicles, floor to ceiling, solid, thick doors. Sink, sanitary bin, baskets of sanitary supplies, loo rolls, tissues etc in each cubicle.
Spotlessly clean and an attendant/ cleaner visible.
Same provision on every floor next to the lifts.
If all companies and locations did this I guess it would be acceptable.
Just.
I do remember being grateful for the extra comfy sesting in the Fenwicks ladies loos when I was suffering awful pregnancy sickness. It was nice to have a sit down and a glass of water in a quiet, safe space. That wouldnt be possible in a unisex loo.

[SuperLambBananas]

Good grief can people stop saying unisex is fine, before going on the describe entirely self contained units with sink etc within cubicle. Obviously those toilets are not the issue as you're never actually strong the facilities with anyone! Hygiene may be an issue but not safety/privacy.

The concerns are traditional toilets - one door leading to room containing row of cubicles, row of sinks.

[CaligulaBlushed]

I like a unisex loo. I don't mind sharing sinks with anyone. Perhaps I'm weird in that I think I actually prefer unisex. Sometimes I feel like women are expected to hide away their "girl stuff" so as to not upset the men, but when there are unisex loos I don't feel like that's expected of me.

Saying that I do hate a flimsy cubicle with a foot high gap at the bottom and a partition the width of a piece of paper. I don't like using cubicles like that next to men OR women, particularly if I've been eating a lot of beans.

Unisex = fine

Shit toilets with no privacy at all = burn them all in hell

[wrenika]

It wouldn't bother me, but then I work with primarily men so you pretty quickly get over the embarrassment of being on your period and taking sanitary products to the bathroom and such...they couldn't care less and likely don't notice. As for the mess aspect, our female toilets can be disgusting some days so I highly doubt we're much better than men.

[wrenika]

I also feel like unisex toilets would stop women hanging around doing makeup, hair, etc and that would be a major silver lining for me. There's nothing worse than people getting in the way because they need to do their makeup.

[RiverTam]

I've never come across women hanging about doing their hair and make up in loos at work. Ever. Maybe before they leave for the evening (though in fact most women I know would do that at their desk) but during the working day? Nope.

[OunceOfFlounce]

I'm sure I heard somewhere that even fully enclosed, lockable rooms are a problem because of electronic voyeurism - predatory men can leave recording devices in them, whereas in normal circumstances they wouldn't be allowed to go in the women's loos so there's no problems.

I think that was switching to unisex changing rooms in America but still a possibility in toilets.

I just find it more chill to have only women.

[Ta1kinpeace]

Effective Unisex toilets .....
6 cubicles
2 marked "F" - including sanitary disposal
2 marked M - include bowl and urinal
2 marked MF have a bowl

you walk in and take your pick
and if you just need a wee the queue is short

shared hand basins are NOT the end of the world

[Dragon3]

Ta1lkinpeace I was on the fence until you mentioned shared hand basins! Women who flood or miscarry are likely to have bloody hands or bloody clothes/other items that need rinsing. Some women, I believe, rinse Mooncups in the sink. Quite humiliating to do in front of women, let alone men.

Enclosed floor to ceiling cubicles never feel safe to me. It takes longer to recognise a problem if a person collapses inside (drugs, epilepsy, fainting and so on) and in public unisex facilities there is the danger of being pushed inside and having an attacker lock the door. Unlikely in a workplace but could certainly happen in public spaces (railway stations, museums, shopping centres).