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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Man cleaner in women changing rooms

372 replies

Globaluser · 22/01/2022 08:17

So I moved to Europe a year ago nearly and just recently started coming to the gym.

In this gym there were no notices up to state there’s both male and female cleaners. So I was caught kinda off guard when I walked out the shower and came across a man mopping the floors.

So I’m wondering since I didn’t really go to any u.k gyms. Is this actually normal?

I mean for me that means I will be showering at home from now on, as I see a difference between women seeing me naked and a man seeing me naked.
So I just wanted to ask how many of you would mind and how many of you have come across a male cleaner in a womens changing room in the u.k.
Thank you ☺️

OP posts:
fandangoclem · 22/01/2022 09:03

My ffs wasn't at the towel wearing. I actually astounded at the attitude here. A woman says she is uncomfortable in this situation and gets told to shut up...not in so many words but that is what it amounts to.

Op ...you pay for this? Glad I gave up the gym some years ago

Sparklingbrook · 22/01/2022 09:04

So nobody was seen naked. Confused I would be very glad that the facilities are being cleaned by someone of either sex and would not be surprised to see men cleaning the women's. But as PPs have said there's generally a sign up or they call out.

At work there is a male cleaner and when he does the ladies loos he puts a sign up and if someone goes in he steps out.

Original poster
Globaluser · 22/01/2022 09:04

I’m not sure if he didn’t announce coming in because I was in the shower and I found him mopping the floors when I walked out.
It’s sounds from what you are all saying that he definitely would’ve shouted something before coming in, I just didn’t hear him.

OP posts:
Original poster
Globaluser · 22/01/2022 09:09

@fandangoclem yes I do feel as if people must think I’m stupid for 1, not knowing about men cleaners in womens changing rooms and 2, being uncomfortable with this fact.
But of course, I understand this is common knowledge now.

OP posts:
DickMabutt73962 · 22/01/2022 09:10

[quote girlmom21]@fandangoclem what are you 'Ffs'ing at?
I don't particularly want to see naked women wandering around when I'm at the gym Hmm[/quote]
Agreed! I'm not originally from the UK and people never walked around changing rooms naked, you got changed in the cubicles. I still find it quite shocking and never now where to look

DickMabutt73962 · 22/01/2022 09:10

@Pawprintpaper

Was he dressed like an elf?
Grin
Sparklingbrook · 22/01/2022 09:10

You could always mention it to the management @Globaluser, if there's no signs and he's not calling out.

Momicrone · 22/01/2022 09:12

I would not like to be walking around semi naked with a man about in a women's changing room

Original poster
Globaluser · 22/01/2022 09:19

Well I should also mention, when I was in hospital after giving birth, I had both my boobs out in front of the male nurse when I was establishing breastfeeding. I didn’t mind as he was a medical professional.
But not long ago I saw a post on here about a woman being sexually assaulted by one.
So, it’s a game of chance for us women I feel.

OP posts:
rifling · 22/01/2022 09:19

Sorry but I don't really need to see that in a changing room
It's a changing room? Surely it's not unusual to see others naked there? The showers in the gym I go to are like this! I would not like a male cleaner to just walk in.

Man cleaner in women changing rooms
Sparklingbrook · 22/01/2022 09:19

I have dresses that cover less of me than my towel. A cleaner may see some ankle and shoulder. Not semi naked.

rifling · 22/01/2022 09:20

Yes, I go to a cheap gym! Grin

Sparklingbrook · 22/01/2022 09:22

It doesn't sound as if the cleaner was in the shower with the OP, he was cleaning when she came out in a towel.

Flocon · 22/01/2022 09:23

@Globaluser

Yes I was in a towel. Thank you all responding. I was just curious if this was normal or not and now I know it is.
You weren't naked then
MrBlobbyLivesNextDoor · 22/01/2022 09:24

@Shunter350

Well.. women cleaner in mens loos..?! Bear in mind we generally pee in a trough.. Makes me uncomfortable tbh.Shock
Women in men's spaces makes men feel uncomfortable.

Whereas men in spaces where women undress makes women feel unsafe.

maddening · 22/01/2022 09:24

Yanbu op, motorway toilets where there is a constant flow then male attendants in understandable and also usually notified on the door.

But other places I have been the male attendant has waited for the room to empty and closed the room while he cleaned.

At my local leisure centre it is a changing village so no issue from a cleaning perspective.

Eleganz · 22/01/2022 09:25

It would be usual in the UK to have a sign warning people that changing facilities can be cleaned by both men and women. I mean, I suspect there are female cleaners regularly cleaning men's changing rooms for example.

However, you say you are not in the UK but in Europe and so it will depend on what the local culture is to these things as to whether putting signs up is the done thing (we love a nice sign here in the UK).

Flocon · 22/01/2022 09:27

But yeah there's usually a sign warning you and not many places would hire two cleaners so there's one for each changing room. Are they even allowed to do that? Not sure. Anyway. As PP have said a lot of people just go home to shower coz of this. But he didn't see you naked.

fandangoclem · 22/01/2022 09:40

For everyone saying he didn't see her naked...you have totally missed the point. Why should women gave to put up with this and feel uncomfortable ..and for those saying go home and shower...so its ok to pay for something but not actually use it

Sparklingbrook · 22/01/2022 09:43

@fandangoclem

For everyone saying he didn't see her naked...you have totally missed the point. Why should women gave to put up with this and feel uncomfortable ..and for those saying go home and shower...so its ok to pay for something but not actually use it
What's the answer then? They employ both male and female cleaners, and they want to keep the place clean (this is good).
WomanStanleyWoman · 22/01/2022 09:50

I’m surprised at the number of people saying this is normal in the UK. I’ve seen the ‘May be cleaned by cleaners of either sex’ or similar signs on toilet doors, but a changing room? I’ve used several gyms over the years, but have never seen a male cleaner in the changing room. Obviously I can’t speak for the men’s changing rooms, but my current and previous gym both have/had male cleaners as I’ve seen them on the gym floor and around the pool, so I assume they clean the changing rooms too.

I also find it odd how freaked out some posters seem at the idea of seeing someone naked in a changing room. It’s not like it’s in the cold meats aisle at Tesco.

Original poster
Globaluser · 22/01/2022 09:50

The answer perhaps should be, men cleaner in mens changing rooms and women cleaners in womens changing rooms.

OP posts:
JigglyPiggly · 22/01/2022 09:51

@fandangoclem

For everyone saying he didn't see her naked...you have totally missed the point. Why should women gave to put up with this and feel uncomfortable ..and for those saying go home and shower...so its ok to pay for something but not actually use it
Because what's the alternative?

Also not all women feel unsafe, or uncomfortable

I've never once paid any attention to the male or female cleaning staff members at my gym.

Most women at the gym gladly still walk around butt naked in front of male and female cleaning teams. So can't be that awful.

The Gym shouldn't have to fire or hire twice as many cleaning staff members to appease some womens strange hang ups

JigglyPiggly · 22/01/2022 09:52

@Globaluser

The answer perhaps should be, men cleaner in mens changing rooms and women cleaners in womens changing rooms.
So they'd have to hire 2 members of staff for every shift then?

Do you not see how silly that sounds

Sparklingbrook · 22/01/2022 09:53

I don't go naked in changing rooms because I don't want anyone to see me naked. I have a big towel and am a fan of a cubicle. I don't really want to see naked strangers myself but I do understand it's their call if they want to be naked in a changing room.

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