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?

Bloody hell

Im not totally against unisex loos in some circumstances.

But work looks are probably not one it be totally chuffed about tbh. I think in that scenario I’d be contrary enough to switch to mooncups and ostentatiously wash it in the sink, just to force the issue.

Im another menopausal one who needs to strip off sometimes. Not to mention the totally unexpected (period) flooding issue last year that left me stood in my pants trying to dry my trousers with a hand dryer. Wouldn’t have felt too happy doing that in a unisex bog with a window into the office.

DONT blame the architects all the time tho, sometimes it’s dumb clients.

I have twice had to wash bloodied underwear in a sink, dry it best I can and put it back on again.

Because the other options are to take it off- where the fuck am I then supposed to put the pad? Or to not wash and have blood seep through my clothing.

Obviously washing in sink is horrible for all concerned, but really the only option in those two instances. Once at work, once on holiday. I then carried spare pants for about a year after each time, but luckily it hasn’t happened often.

But yeah, people like me with sudden flooding/ pads that malfunction don’t exist.

If it had been unisex I’d have probably stared down any men who came in, then started crying hysterically. How dignified that would have been.

*work Loos. Ffs autocorrect

I'm just nodding at you Fermats since I am one of those people who don't have STEM qualifications (and therefore according to at least one poster in FWR) am just one of those y'know PoMo layabouts who didn't have any work to do during their degrees.

I have to admit, not being a Geek I was lost at 'muons'

Personally the thought of someone rinsing out their moon cup in a public sink is very unhygienic and rather gross. I don’t use one and suppose I don’t know how often you need to wash them etc, but if I saw someone doing that in a sink that I was about to wash my hands in I would be quite disgusted.

Let’s hope the unisex toilets will mean the men who “piss everywhere” will be a bit more careful. Let’s not forget this is a workplace and not a nightclub, I think some are being very precious about this.

But toilets are there to allow women to handle things like menstrual hygiene, which for some means using menstrual cups. Is it hugely different to washing bloody hands from changing non-applicator tampons?

This thread is making me anxious about the menopause now random bose-Einstein (or should that be einSTAIN) superfluid flooding? It's bad enough when I can pinpoint the wk the superfluid flooding starts...random will not do!

Having cleaned male toilets in a workplace, I don't have very high hopes slippynips.

Really slippy, "precious"?

At my husband's office the HR department frequently have to issue emails advising the male staff not to wipe shit on the wall, not pee on the floor or in the sink (yes really). It's the v techie developers that are the problem. DH is often head shaking at them.

BTW, it's not just female muslims that would have a problem with unisex facilities. Male muslims also have to go through a wash routine before prayer, particulary during Ramadan. I don't think they could do this in front of females

I'd hate it! I get self-conscious peeling noisy wrappers off tampons or pads in a cubicle. I also hate if you think you're getting your period and you go to the toilet every hour to check :-| Might sound nuts but I just don't think having men in the loos would make that any less embarrassing. Sometimes if I take my bag to the loo I feel everybody notices. Wouldn't like to be carting my bag in to unisex loos.

not to wipe shit on the wall

Never mind the superfluid in sinks and toilets can we just can men from public buildings? ( or life in general )

We have unisex loos and there aren't enough... so when you come out to wash your hands there is usually a queue of both M and F. Having said that it doesn't bother me. What's the different between washing your hands/cup/whatever in front of women or men.

Ban* not can!

Sorrynot read the full thread but is it a cost cutting thing or gender equality thing?

We just have toilets. Single rooms, off the corridor, sink inside, with sanitary bin. No problem. The men I work with somehow manage not to drench the place in urine

I prefer a single self contained toilets. I hate half gappy doors even in single sex.

Me too Moritz.

I am guessing that from the number of loos (9?), that your firm isn't that large. Have you asked your colleagues how they feel about this? You mention going to see HR. It might be helpful if you had the support of other employees. The female/male/unisex/disabled loo split is the obvious solution. Good luck.

Personally though I wouldn't feel comfortable washing out a mooncup or similar in a sink area that opened out into a public area.

Does anyone actually do this at the communal sink? I’ve used a mooncup, just used to bail it out and give it a quick wipe with loo roll.
I think most women would be a bit surprised to see a mooncup washed out in a communal sink.

The toilets you describe sound fabulous.

Is it hugely different to washing bloody hands from changing non-applicator tampons?

Do women actually walk from the cubicle with blood all over their hands? I've always wiped my hands with toilet roll and then washed when I've found myself in this situation.

It seems some women's toilet habits are as unpleasant as the male ones bring discussed.

We had loos like this where I worked and I once went home sick because my breast milk had leaked and I had no where to clean up. It's not well thought thru, it ignores many of the reasons women use loos.

I don't think men understand the practical implications of periods, they might understand the need for tampons, pads or mooncup but not the fact that it can messy
That's because women are embarrassed about it and hide the fact. I see unisex toilets as an opportunity to change that.

What about the vending machines for tampons /pads/condoms? Presumably there won't be any because who is going to use them in front of a colleague of the opposite sex?

Women are embarrassed because we have been socialised to be ashamed. That thing called patriarchy is still alive and well.

What about the vending machines for tampons /pads/condoms? Presumably there won't be any because who is going to use them in front of a colleague of the opposite sex?

I would. Why on earth would you not?