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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:
Katieandthekids · 22/01/2022 09:53

@Shiningpath

Have you ever hear of a towel?
That's not really the point it's supposed to be a female space. Personally I would complain. They should check no one is in there and temporarily shut the area off
Original poster
Globaluser · 22/01/2022 09:54

@WomanStanleyWoman I for one don’t think it’s weird for a woman to be naked in the changing room. But find it weird for a man cleaning a woman’s changing room. I too, find it odd that many women on here think the opposite to what I think 😧

OP posts:
Luredbyapomegranate · 22/01/2022 09:54

It’s common in public loos in the UK, with a note up. I really don’t think it’s common in UK gym changing rooms. There’d be an outcry! They are cleaned out of hours.

I’d mention it the gym, just to check it’s what they expect, even in more open countries, it seems extreme.

MrBlobbyLivesNextDoor · 22/01/2022 09:54

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.

Bullshit they do.

Original poster
Globaluser · 22/01/2022 09:55

There are no private cubicles except 2 small toilets.

OP posts:
Luredbyapomegranate · 22/01/2022 09:57

@Sparklingbrook

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.
That’s your call, but it is normal to be naked in a changing room, and to expect it to be a single sex space if that’s what it’s billed as.

So it’s reasonable to expect to know if there will be an opposite sex cleaner in there.

buzzy06 · 22/01/2022 10:00

I thought it's normal to shower with a swimsuit then go in the cubicle. Why the need to be naked if there are provisions available?

I can understand not wanting a make in there when operational but I can honestly say I've never been naked in a public changing room in front of people.

StruggleStreet · 22/01/2022 10:01

I really wouldn’t like this either OP. No male cleaners in the female changing rooms at my gym thankfully.

And to all those saying use a towel, well yes obviously but you do have to take the towel off at some point to put your clothes on and I really don’t want any man around when I do. I know they are there just to do a job but it would make me feel incredibly uncomfortable. And yes NAMALT but plenty are voyeuristic, and worse, and I think women just need some safe spaces where men aren’t allowed.

BamberGascoine · 22/01/2022 10:03

I think we all know OP takes a towel with her!!! Surely common sense tells you that although she walks out of the shower area with a towel on, at some point she will then Be getting dressed. So therefore if it’s normal for a man to be cleaning the changing rooms she will choose not to have a shower there in case he walks in while she is getting dressed.

FWIW the gyms I have used have never had men in the changing rooms but I’ve only been to 3 so not really much experience.

WomanStanleyWoman · 22/01/2022 10:03

[quote Globaluser]@WomanStanleyWoman I for one don’t think it’s weird for a woman to be naked in the changing room. But find it weird for a man cleaning a woman’s changing room. I too, find it odd that many women on here think the opposite to what I think 😧[/quote]
You’re not the only one who thinks it’s odd! I’m really surprised at the number of people saying they’ve seen this.

Sparklingbrook · 22/01/2022 10:03

That’s your call, but it is normal to be naked in a changing room, and to expect it to be a single sex space if that’s what it’s billed as

So it’s reasonable to expect to know if there will be an opposite sex cleaner in there

That's why there's generally signs up and a male cleaner would call out. I would be pleased they are continually cleaning the place.

WomanStanleyWoman · 22/01/2022 10:05

So they'd have to hire 2 members of staff for every shift then? Do you not see how silly that sounds

It doesn’t sound silly at all. It would have to be a very small gym to only need one cleaner.

Xoxoxoxoxoxox · 22/01/2022 10:08

Also not all women feel unsafe, or uncomfortable…

Ahh that’s alright then,….
any woman who feels vulnerable alone in a room with a man in a towel should just stay home maybe?
Any small concession for female only space is obviously too much to ask?

rwalker · 22/01/2022 10:09

Opposite sex cleaner in toilets and changing rooms very common .
Female cleaner in toilets are the worst shouldn't be allowed or toilet closed when there are cleaning. You are totally exposed at urinal even had a woman walked in pushing a mop and proceeded to mop round me whilst I was weeing .

MrBlobbyLivesNextDoor · 22/01/2022 10:15

@rwalker

Opposite sex cleaner in toilets and changing rooms very common . Female cleaner in toilets are the worst shouldn't be allowed or toilet closed when there are cleaning. You are totally exposed at urinal even had a woman walked in pushing a mop and proceeded to mop round me whilst I was weeing .
Uncomfortable yes, I'm sure but certainly not the worst. Men aren't generally at risk of sexual assault from women. But in terms of dignity, sure.
buzzy06 · 22/01/2022 10:16

You’re not the only one who thinks it’s odd! I’m really surprised at the number of people saying they’ve seen this.

They should really be single sex, yes, but I don't get people being so confused to strip off completely nude, even when I'm the shower washing off. I suppose it's each swingers right though so don't really matter.

CounsellorTroi · 22/01/2022 10:16

Never seen any male cleaners in my gym changing room though I have seen in motorway service stations. But that is not the same, people aren’t getting changed in service station toilets usually.

When maintenance work needed doing in my gym changing rooms they swapped the changing rooms over.

RufustheFloralmissingreindeer · 22/01/2022 10:20

@maddening

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.

Yes I’d agree with this

Ive really only ever been somewhere with a sign on the door giving you a heads up

JigglyPiggly · 22/01/2022 10:31

@Xoxoxoxoxoxox

Also not all women feel unsafe, or uncomfortable…

Ahh that’s alright then,….
any woman who feels vulnerable alone in a room with a man in a towel should just stay home maybe?
Any small concession for female only space is obviously too much to ask?

Well yes

That's a you problem, a gym is a business

Why would they hire 2x as many staff as they need because a few women are being difficult about it?

I don't like dogs, I don't then go to a park and state no dogs should be allowed because I and a few others don't like them.

If you're the one with the issue, you need to be the one to make efforts to mitigate.

JigglyPiggly · 22/01/2022 10:33

@MrBlobbyLivesNextDoor

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.

Bullshit they do.

Confused

Weird to think you know what I see with my own eyes better than I do

But then again this is MN - where most sense goes to die

MrBlobbyLivesNextDoor · 22/01/2022 10:33

Why would they hire 2x as many staff as they need because a few women are being difficult about it?

Women are being difficult because they don't want to undress in front of men?

It's clear what you are.

MrBlobbyLivesNextDoor · 22/01/2022 10:34

But then again this is MN - where most sense goes to die

If the cap fits dude...

WomanStanleyWoman · 22/01/2022 10:34

I suppose it's each swingers right though so don't really matter.

Is that a rather brilliant autocorrect, or is your gym really full of swingers? Grin

JigglyPiggly · 22/01/2022 10:43

@MrBlobbyLivesNextDoor

Why would they hire 2x as many staff as they need because a few women are being difficult about it?

Women are being difficult because they don't want to undress in front of men?

It's clear what you are.

Yes

Being difficult

Do you honestly think every man in the world wants to see you naked?

Can't just get on with their minimum wage job without drama, gyms will use the staff they have, if that's a male cleaner then so be it.

Clearly not everyone doesn't like this as many women still go to gyms with male cleaners and get undressed and changed just fine.

You having an issue doesn't make it widespread or normal

MrBlobbyLivesNextDoor · 22/01/2022 11:01

Do you honestly think every man in the world wants to see you naked?

Men are responsible for the majority of sexual assault and violence. No I don't think every man in the world wants to see me or other women naked. But this does not detract from the fact that some men would be more than happy with this situation. And it doesn't detract from the fact that most women will either be sexually harassed or sexually assaulted by a male at some point in their life. Sadly this is widespread and unfortunately normal.

Your minimising this shows you up for what you are.