STEM Manchester for girls?

[Ritasueandbobtoo9]

Went to a Manchester Uni yesterday for an open day. In both the Maths and Engineering blocks the toilets are gender neutral. Some Dad quite accidentally but forcefully barged into my toilet, door opened despite lock, was clothed and he apologised but I don’t want my daughter going there. Are all universities like this? There were many more sons and fathers than Daughters but it felt very exclusionary to women. What are they playing at? Can’t they understand this isn’t going to help girls get into STEM? Or is that the aim?

Are you sure you locked it properly? Common at unis and other places to have unisex loos. Ds' new school.was built with only unisex toilets each lockable with its own sink. Seems an odd reason to discount a university.

This is not a reason to not apply to a university. Accommodation may well have shared facilities FYI.

What did your DD think of the uni and course? Surely it's up to her to decide if this is one of her top priorities in choosing where to apply?

This wouldn't put my daughter off. Or next

Are you the best person to be supporting your daughter's decision making about her STEM course?

I do think these loos put off some girls. Especially ones from a sheltered home life. It’s not necessary in a large faculty. However I would look at the course first and foremost.

The Health Professions block had single sex toilets. Of course I locked the toilet.

These toilets are just rows of toilets without sinks with washbasins and mirrors opposite.

I am not sheltered. I have known sex offenders and went to a male dominated university so yes I would say I am the right person to protect my daughter. What concerns me is that this University doesn’t seem to realise how their environment excludes women.

I can see that girls safety and comfort is something to be laughed at on here. What a shame.

But from what you've said it's not your daughter that felt uncomfortable or unsafe, but you.

I don't know Manchester particularly, but my uni has both mixed gender ( unisex) and single sex facilities. It may be that Mcr do too in that building, or a nearby one.

Not sure the comparison to halls is relevant - they'll generally be used by small groups of students who are sharing cooking and socialising together, similar to being in their own home - someone unknown can be legitimately challenged. Toilets in academic buildings wi be used by total strangers.

I don't know why you're getting so much pushback from other posters, this sort of set up would make many women uncomfortable (assuming it's all enclosed, etc).
It is ultimately up to your daughter, though, maybe you could raise it at a Q&A session?

Have you really started this post to ask about STEM at Manchester, or as a MN klaxon?

FWIW when I went to a Birmingham offer day, it was men who were put out by unisex facilities as they suddenly entered the realm of the toilet queue.

Was there not a single sex toilet somewhere in the building? There usually is.

I agree some may find it less than desirable but it is way down the list of reasons for studying at a university and as I said accommodation is mixed sex.

I do think it's relevant titchy as the OP seems to be on a bit of a crusade. Tbh, I'd feel more uncomfortable in shared facilities in my bathrobe /towel than in a lockable toilet cubicle in a public building.

Most students don't feel uncomfortable using mixed bathrooms in halls though - halls are effectively private remember, and there is often female only halls for those that do.

But only unisex toilets in a building open to the public is piss (excuse pun) poor and likely to deter many women, including those from certain religious backgrounds. Regardless of the 'mission' OP may or may not be on Mcr shouldn't assume everyone is ok with this, they're not.

Is it a deal breaker? For me no. It would be for some though yes, and I'm about broadening access not limiting it.

Well I suggest that the women on this thread go along and see for themselves. There were very few girls on some of the talks so you would hope that a university would be wanting to encourage women into STEM. Being burst in on in a small cubicle with an outer hallway shut off from the main foyer would be intimidating for any young woman. Not a safe environment to be in.

I think you know your little group in a hall. It’s 8,10 or 12 . In a faculty it’s a lot more. People you absolutely don’t know.

@Ritasueandbobtoo9

I didn’t mean you were sheltered!!! I meant some cultures shelter their girls. I’m really agreeing with you. It’s because of pressure from some student groups that these changes have been made. Women should require their own spaces. They are foolish if they don’t.

@TizerorFizz I realised what you meant after I posted. I shared a hall and toilet with only men at my university. The toilet sharing was fine although I was always on my guard in a way I wouldn’t have been in a all girls hall. But this is a massive department with plenty of room. I could see that some of the men were literally looking at the few women in the toilets like are you supposed to be here / uncomfortable. It was really awkward.

@Ritasueandbobtoo9
Its just become too easy for women's spaces to be taken away. No one says anything. Women are ok with it. Can’t say I am. They could do shared, male and female!