New 'third space' toilets in workplace (non-binary etc or disabled)

[knitandpearl]

I've just seen that a workplace of my brother's (not in the UK) has introduced 'third space' toilets - for disabled people, non-binary or those transitioning, or anyone not comfortable in 'single-gender' toilets'. Single-gender toilets are still available elsewhere. These new toilets are complete cubicles so self-contained within the 'neutral' space.

Great! I thought. People have often suggested gender-neutral or third-space toilets as a solution to 'trans X ppl in c*s X toilets'.

I just had to ask one thing - were these new toilets, or had existing toilets been converted?

They were existing toilets that had been converted.

Were they previously the men's or women's toilets?

Can you guess?
Move over, ladies!

Unless this actually causes a shortage of toilets in the workplace I don't see what the problem is. They can be used by anyone who dislikes the horrible cardboard partitions and ceiling and floor gaps set- up. I would use this in preference to the a traditional ladies loo.

If they've taken some of the women's toilets then it will presumably cause a shortage.

Why is it so rarely the men's that are taken to be used this way?

If they've taken some of the women's toilets then it will presumably cause a shortage

You don't know that and I'm fairly certain there are rules about the provision of loos in offices.

At my university, they have plastered the "all gender" sign onto the disabled toilets...

Why should disabled people have to share their spaces?

No one knows. I'm giving my opinion, as are you.

Unless they've provided replacement facilities, there are now less toilets than there were for women. And not for men. Which is nice.

No one knows. I'm giving my opinion, as are you

You said it will presumably cause a shortage. You have no idea if it will. There are rules in place about ratios of toilets to staff.

And everyone follows the rules, all of the time...

In this foreign country, with its unknown legal system...

Hawayman but aren’t disabled toilets normally for disabled people of all genders? I have never seen disabled toilets for people who id as women, and other for people who id as men.

Sticking a "all genders" sign on a disabled toilet means it's available for anyone of any sex, whether they've got a disability or not. That's the issue.

Disabled toilets have always been mixed gender as they're normally self contained

How frustrating though if you are disabled and need the loo and you can't use the only one you can actually access because bob on mon to wed and Brenda thurs to sun has decided to identify into using that space

googly, it is immensely frustrating. This happened in the office I worked at, there was only one disabled loo in the entire building. HR allowed a transwomen to use it when they started to transition, despite not having any disability.

I have inflammatory bowel disease, and often had little notice of when I needed to go. This disabled loo also had a shower in it, which was fantastic. Nearly everything I needed for the worst case scenario was in that toilet.

Will it actually make any difference? If a transwoman claims to be a woman (or even a 'biological woman'!), not transitioning or non-binary, will anyone be able to stop them using the woman's toilets?

“You said it will presumably cause a shortage. You have no idea if it will. There are rules in place about ratios of toilets to staff.”

She can make an educated guess by taking into account the longer queues for women’s toilets in public facilities and the longer time women need to use the toilets.