Uncomfortable about unisex toilets at work

[Onlyinanemergency]

My workplace is moving to new premises and all the toilets are to be unisex. Apparently the bathrooms consist of several floor-to-ceiling cubicals opening out onto shared sinks. There is then a large window onto a public corridor so that the sink area can be seen from outside the bathroom. There are 3 of these bathrooms, one on each floor of the building, as well as 3 single disabled toilets. The architects have obviously put a lot of thought into creating toilets which are unisex but also fairly safe and private, yet I still feel really uncomfortable about the idea. Particularly about not being given a choice. Am I wrong?

Ooh, we have an agenda? That sounds nice and scary. Are there nefarious plans afoot too?

But we silly little women's liberationists are a sucker for that kind of thing.

Some of us silly little women's liberationists think that there is more than one way to skin that cat. And that some ways are better than others. I would have thought that was the point of discussion to be honest.

Are there nefarious plans afoot too?

Where do I sign up! Sounds brill!

I think the "agenda" is women's privacy, dignity AND boundaries.
Probably frivolous in your world. But we silly little women's liberationists are a sucker for that kind of thing.

Aren't we just!

I really should be doing other stuff right now but it's hard to walk away from something this unintentionally funny.

I agree, I'm in the same boat!

Then everyone who is comfortable using a mixed space can make the active choice to do so. Over time, if its is as safe as people claim, it will become the norm

Absolutely

Gradual change

Not just taking something away that was fought for and we have had for a long time...on a whim

Oh, well this seems to be turning into a completely pointless discussion that isn't going to get us even one step closer to establishing the best and most effective feminist stance on the OP's office toilets, so I'll leave you all to your usual circle-jerk.

This is what happens when your feminism has neither class analysis nor empathy, I guess.

Yep.

Don't be too hasty in including yourself under that banner Rat. Particularly when you argued from an equalitist POV.

"so I'll leave you all to your usual circle-jerk"

What a charming manner to address women

so I'll leave you all to your usual circle-jerk.

Lol, from someone who grandstands across practically every thread on any related topic.

@Ereshkigal

so I'll leave you all to your usual circle-jerk.

Lol, from someone who grandstands across practically every thread on any related topic.

...to such an extent that I genuinely thought she was an MRA 😟

I recognise that my situation is relatively unique but my history of sexual violence and assaults means its terrifying for me to have my trousers around my ankles knowing I'm separated from a man by a flimsy toilet wall or door.

I know it's irrational but unisex toilets make me panic.

You don't have to justify why you feel like you do

One of our jobs as feminists (not the fun kind) is to stand up for women who have that kind of trauma so they don't have to do so all by themselves.

We've got your back, Bubbles.

so I'll leave you all to your usual circle-jerk

An oddly male metaphor ...

Not entirely sure you can have one of those without cocks. What does Rat think we're jerking, exactly?

@BubblesInTheTub If a man had lost a leg in a shark attack, would anyone call him 'irrational' for being afraid to swim in shark infested waters?

The best and most effective feminist stance is one that recognises that not all women have your privilege, courage and inner strength.

Some of us are anxious, have a history of abuse, work with sex pests and are too nervous to make a grievance (me), have religious beliefs, don’t want to be in a state of undress amongst men.

The best feminist stance is to recognise that not all women consent and that “no” should have greater weight than “yes”

You aren’t going to remove stigma by contributing to a hostile environment for women. The hostile environment should be your focus not the few safe spaces we have.

There's nothing irrational about being afraid of men after they've already proven that some of them are a danger to you. Nobody shames people who're scared of dogs because they got bitten as children in the same way women are shamed for having trauma caused by men, which is ironic in that dogs don't kill 2 women a week.

LaSqrrl
I was suggesting that Germaine Greer's focus was on the difference of national attitudes towards toilets & sex.

She said, “I don’t understand why in England in particular defecation is thought of as a sexual activity. I don’t get it.”

There is some variance in national attitudes towards gender neutral toilets.
today.yougov.com/topics/lifestyle/articles-reports/2013/09/13/unisex-toilets-british-women-most-reluctant-share-

I haven't read anything about provision and attitudes in Australia hence my (?) but Germaine Greer may also be highlighting the difference in English attitudes to other European countries etc.

'circle-jerk' - such a lovely way to signal departure!

Yes Angry, dogs not be killing women at the rate of two per week, nor raping women in the order of 1,500 per week. It is entirely rational to be cautious around them, any of them. And you cannot pick a rapist, nor a wife-killer by sight either.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/single-sex-toilets-unesco-un-international-womens-day-period-a8244776.html

It amazes me that there are campaigns in Africa and India to build toilets for women because they are subject to rape in shared facilities and have to be absent from school when mentruating due to lack of female facilities, yet women are dismisssed as 'hysterical' for wanting to preserve sex segregated facilities here in the 'First World'.

We are expected to welcome men and males who identify as women into spaces where women are vulnerable without any reference or concern for out safefy, our privacy or our dignity.

It's only been 100 years since women gained sex segregated facilities and now they are being removed.

Why do female toilets cause such outrage?

Ew Rat what horrible opinions you have.

We also don't treat people's fear of dogs by forcing them into enclosed spaces with unknown ones.