To be apprehensive about this toilet situation

[coconutwhip]

I work in a college environment I went back today after building works have gone on to find this situation.
The toilets have had the wall removed which separates it from the corridor. As you walk down the corridor you can see the cubicals and sinks (I've attached a drawing in true mumsnet fashion!). It says the toilets are female only but yet everyone can see in? The cubicals are not floor to ceiling so you could I imagine see people's feet as you walk towards it.
I don't care about sharing toilets as I've always been in a unisex toilet environment but to not have a separate 'room' with the toilets in but rather being where everyone can see is horrifying me. Surely this isn't right?
AIBU to feel like this

That seems really unhygienic, won't the corridor be full of poo particles?

@Sexnotgender I'm unsure. We just knew there were building works going on to 'improve the campus' last year we merged with a bigger education provider so would be interested to know if this is standard across the colleges

My betting is the mens toilets have been left completely alone and this is all to be seen to be sooooooo inclusive to ofsted. When in reality it is making women and girls not want to use them as they will feel totally exposed.

Completely unacceptable and possibly even illegal to have the toilets like this. "Gender neutral" or unisex toilets should be self contained units with sink etc.... in them. Women and girls should not be degraded in the way this college has done.

@BigRedBoat

That seems really unhygienic, won't the corridor be full of poo particles?

Quite likely. And as corona can be traced in and contracted from faeces possibly not "covid secure " at the current moment in time.

This would be fine I think if they were properly boxed in toilets, but cubicles with gaps are unacceptable. I will poo just about anywhere and I’d still be horrified by this! And what about attending to feminine hygiene needs?

The whole corridor will be smelling of toilets. What a stupid idea!

This is so degrading.

This is revolting, what ever the excuse to put all on display.
And if the main target is children because they're having a bit of fun in the toilets then it shows how little they value the children's rights, privacy and dignity.

No, no and never.

I'd go into the toilet leave the door open and sit on the loo and wave to everyone.

As PP said it is degrading. What if you have a stomach upset, reaction due to food intolerance, bad wind, heavy period, problems inserting a tampon, vomiting, stomach bug, pregnancy sickness. The list could go on. It’s not on at all. Could you ask for a H&S assessment on it due to particles carrying - Covid or e-coli, that sort of thing.
Really hoping you are not at my DD’s college as she won’t be able to return with that set up.

One of our local theatre venues has unisex toilets like this (it’s also a school). I’ve queued up with a mixed crowd and used them without a second thought - actually commented to female friends that the queue is quicker when all of us can use all the cubicles.

I don’t think there are gaps under the doors, though. Certainly not big enough gaps for feet to be visible to someone standing outside.

Outrageous. I always had to wait until I was convinced nobody was about to rustle open a new sanitary towel at school/college. I found it mortifying. Knowing anyone, including men/boys were within ear shot would have made it impossible.

Definitely no privacy, and many have doors that can be opened from the outside (try a ruler in the groove and it pops open) for 'security', but clearly subject to much abuse from pranksters. Insist a lock is available inside.

Take a Whoopee cushion in and use it with gusto!
Someone will complain and they may put the wall back.

How old are the students ?

I'm sure that's wrong! Our secondary school has opened up the toilets but there is still a wall between them and the corridor. They have boys one side and girls the other, and back-to-back sinks in between, but all encased behind a glass wall separating them from the corridor. Not sure about whether you can see feet.

Actually I think what they have done is illegal. www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/toilets.htm

Single sex toilets must be provided and they should be in a separate room which doesn't mean open to the corridor.

Are you in a union?

And that is also illegal @ifhedoesntlikeithecanstuffit. Single sex toilets must be in a room, not with shared sinks down the middle.

Evidence is that girls are not changing their sanitary protection nor going to the toilet during the day because they are subject to bullying by boys.

They've done this at my DC school. It means the kids can't loiter/ mess about in the loos.

They need to find a better way to stop kids loitering then. That's disgusting.

I have heard of this happening in schools to prevent bullying etc. but I would absolutely hate this.

For one, no separation between toilet particles and the corridor?

Also, all well and good when the corridors are crowded and you can’t really hear anything but what if you went when it’s really quiet?? Any sounds would just reverberate??

I'm baffled as to why anyone would set toilets up like this

@1Morewineplease

I wouldn’t be very happy about it. I’m still getting over a stay in a hotel where the sink and shower were in the bedroom.

I wouldn't mind that as long as the toilet was behind a door.

What if you get the shits? The whole corridor will hear you! (And smell you) or if you need to be sick?

What if you get a leak and need to wash your trousers/skirt?

Its going to end up being humiliating for someone. Remember my best friend leaking in school and sitting in the toilets crying while I washed her clothes, she then obviously had to wash her hands which had blood on them, and she got some on the floor - we spent the whole lunch hiding in the toilets because she was so upset and embarassed (we were only about 13). A really embarassing situation for a teenager at the best of times, yet alone in a corridor in full view of the whole school. Sometimes the girls toilets can offer a bit of safety from boys, or just a bit of respite.

Where are you?

I’m sure in Scotland there has to be at least two doors separating the toilets from other areas