AIBU to be upset about changes to women-only swimming ponds?

[Bertiebiscuit]

The BBC (blokes broadcasting corporation) trolling women again - since they now let males in it's not a Ladies' pond any more - so there are 3 swimming ponds, a mixed sex one, a mens'pond......... And another mixed one. How greedy and destructive the TRAs are. Women must have nothing.

I vote we all go and swim in the men’s pond. It’s bigger so there’s room for all of us. Fair’s fair if everything is now mixed sex.

(Although somehow the men managed to get women banned from the men’s pond. I think another Man Friday protest is in order).

(For clarity, trans men can use the men's pond)
Not saying I disagree with OP's possible reasons for positing, just pointing out it applies also to the other 'single sex' pond.
I used to use them years ago, but no longer live in the area.

Do you swim at the Ladies' Pond, OP? The people who actually do are very supportive of the policy, whatever the Mumsnet Hive Mind opinion is

I swim there very regularly and you are wrong. We want it to be for biological women only.

I have met several women over the years who use it, and they would not want someone born male to be there.

It's not just about swimming, the rest area is somewhere you can read a book or just sit outdoors in peace. One of those felt it the only place they could sunbathe topless without male interruption.

That is a flat out lie and you know it.

And the people who aren’t supportive can’t swim there so that a pretty circular argument.

Can they though? Trans identifying women have been thrown out of the men's pond at least twice that I know of.

Bloody awful OP 😤

There’s a lot of women who don’t swim in the ‘Ladies’ Pond’ because it has become mixed sex.

So that’s a futile question. And the ones who still do swim there want it to stay for women, as defined by the actual law, not by made-up ideologies they didn’t get a proper say in.

How many women would love to swim in a single sex pond, but can't because there are men there?

How anyone can stand up for this is beyond me. Men have 3 ponds to choose from, including a single sex one of their own. But women only have 2 options and no single sex provision. Blatant misogyny.

Ah OK, I wasn't aware. Thanks for the clarification.

The Man Friday protest a few years ago is a good example of that.

I fully agree @Bertiebiscuit! , however I imagine you will be in for a pile on shortly 💐

The ladies who don't support the policy won't be swimming there will they. Talk about confirmation bias on your part 😂.

@BigYellowBusI swim in the women’s pond and that’s definitely NOT the impression I’ve had from other women. I had the deeply uncomfortable experience of encountering a man in the changing room once. He was just sitting watching women shower while wearing a really inappropriate swimming costume and sporting an obvious erection.

Jesus that's grim @slug .

If it's a policy that these type of perverts are welcome then who do you even complain to?

Sorry this happened to you and the other women there; it's basically approved sexual assault 😞.

Isn't it unlawful in the light of the guidance?

Yes. But they don't seem to think the law applies to them.

Outrageous .

Yes it was grim. As much for the ridiculously high cut leg on the swimsuit with the hint of a bollock peeping out as anything else. I have regular swimming sessions with a group of female friends, all of us in late middle age. The pond has been out go to for many years, but now we mostly feel we can't risk it any more. Too many of us have varying shades of PTSD from men's sexual behaviour in the past.

I mentioned this particular incident when I responded to the "consultation". I suspect that was enough to have my response excluded for being "inappropriate".

I don't know where you get your information from but there amhave Ben interviews all over the media on the last year from women who use the pond who are extremely unhappy letting me use it.

In fact I notice a couple of them have posted on this thread. I hope you will check your sources of information to get a full view of the situation, not just rely on the BBC that repeatedlybdemonatrayes massive bias against women on the trans subject.

Ugh. I'm sorry that's just awful.

I can't believe that the world is so topsy turvy now that a man ogling women in the changing rooms with an erection is not seen as the inappropriate one, but you objecting to him is what is inappropriate. It makes me so angry.

Over 10 years ago he would have been arrested for indecent exposure and put on the sex offenders register. The police used to be briefed on men sneaking into women's single sex spaces as part of their fetish, I remember reading an account by a female police officer saying this was a training course to raise awareness of these types of men until lobby groups like stonewall got involved and suddenly everyone had to pretend that creeps like that no longer existed.

This consultation suggests that not everyone shares your views

https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/hampstead-heath/activities-at-hampstead-heath/swimming-at-hampstead-heath/hampstead-heath-bathing-ponds-consultation

No, because they don't claim to offer a single sex service. Signage clearly states that both biological women and trans women are welcome.