To not cover up when changing in a single sex changing room?

[Cinai2]

I grew up in a country where cubicles are unheard of, showers in gyms are often one big room with several showers and no separation walls, and you’re not supposed to wear anything in a sauna (even if mixed sex).

Because of that, it never occurred to me to use a cubicle or get changed under a towel. Not that I am walking up and down the room naked, but I am naked for a few seconds while putting on my underwear. I’m not bothered and there’s nothing interesting to see (40+, bit overweight, c section overhang, so definitely not trying to show off). I never thought anything of it, but seeing some threads here, I start to wonder if that’s inconsiderate / bad etiquette? I don’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable using the changing rooms.

YABU - cover up
YANBU - do as you please, I couldn’t care less

I grew up where there were cubicles at the pool but common changing room (single sex) in many shops and our sports team had to change outdoors by the side of the pitch and the same for sea swimming.

As an adult, in a gym with ladies changing room (sometimes with children there too), I am not parading around naked, but I am also not covering everything at every moment. I wrap a towel around going from shower to my locker - but once I am dried off, I will usually put the towel on the bench and start getting dressed rather than getting dressed holding the towel around me. IYKWIM.

As long as you are not parading round jiggling your boobs in other people's faces, I wouldn't worry about it.

I personally try to keep as much of me covered as I can, but that's just me. I don't have any problems with other females who don't.

It wouldn't bother me. I'm too shy to do it myself but always think people who just get on and get changed without trying to hide in a towel are much more sensible than me. I quite literally end up getting my knickers in a twist trying to cover up when nobody is even looking at me. Daft, really.

I'm the same op. I have no issue being naked or being seen. Most people in the gym hide away whilst getting changed.

I cover up, but that's a me issue. You go for it! I admire your attitude.

I remember a similar thread and a poster said a lady from her gym not only walked around starkers, but blow dried her pubic hair at the communal the hair dryer.

No problem for me either. I mostly cover up but there's always a moment or two when it's just easier to let go the towel!

What I do object to, is the women who take an age to dry their - usually long - hair. I'd like to blast my my hair, but no, they're still there giving themselves a fancy blow-dry long after I've showered, dried and dressed myself.

I couldn't care less, no-one's being forced to look are they? 🤷‍♂️

Having said that, I'm a firm believer of 'When in Rome' so I would tend to gravitate towards the culture of the country I'm in at any given time.

But there is no such culture in the UK really, as some cover up and some don't.

Do as you wish! I personally hate communal
changing and avoid it wherever possible, but live in a country where nudity is not taboo and everyone just gets on with it.

Wouldn’t parade about, but walking naked from the shower to the locker doesn’t bother me

If you're discreet no one will notice.or care. If you prop one leg up on a bench and proceed to do a full body moisturising session in the nude then that's bad etiquette. And yes I have seen that

I use a cubicle if there is one, wear a costume in the shower and do my best to cover up if communal changing is the only option - that’s entirely my issue, as I went to boarding school and I absolutely hated the communal showers and lack of privacy. I couldn’t give a monkeys if other women are less bothered, and I don’t think anything in particular about women who are comfortable being naked in front of me. I am now wondering whether my being self-conscious is making others feel uncomfortable! I hope not.

I lost any fears I had about being naked for a few seconds around women when I had the DCs and nursed them until they were 2 years old. I realised that other women don't care and aren't interested. It takes no more than a few seconds to turn my back to the rest of the room, get out my clothes and underwear on the bench, drop the towel, put on my underwear and then the rest of my clothes. Maybe someone would see my arse for 5 seconds max? I've seen more bumcheek at the beach with those thong bikinis the youngs are wearing these days.

The important thing is that the rest of the changing room is all women (the female kind). The moment I'm not confident that it's a single sex space, I'm out of there.

As long as you aren't the woman massaging body lotion into every inch of herself, leg up on the bench, then I think you’re ok. If you are, close your flaps and hurry up a bit. You are indeed beautiful, but it’s off putting and there’s not much space in here.

YANBU.

There's a definite generational divide, I think younger women are far more self-conscious than older ones.

I used to shower naked in a single sex communal changing area of my local swimming pool after swimming on the way to/from work. Did it all the way through pregnancy because I wanted to wash the chlorine off properly etc. Never thought anything of it until I joined MN and realised how many women object to it.

As long as you're not hairdrying your minge or doing a full body lotion session, its not really a problem.

I am in Germany. It is seriously not an issue.

And as pp above has so beautifully put: some women do use the hairdryer to blow over their whole body, and put on body lotion. We are all adult women and therefore don't faint and clutch our pearls.

Depends if there's a man in there or not.