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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

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Original poster

The Queue for the Loo - why do we still tolerate it?

49 replies

ListeningQuietly · 05/12/2019 17:07

In every public building / space / venue there are two blocks of cubicles.
One will have a queue
The other will not.

Why are the underused cubicles not redesignated as gender neutral
a nice sticker on the door of each one would do the trick
then groups of people from the queue can fully utilise the available resources,
leaving the existing users of that space to carry on using the urinals
and those in the original location with a shorter queue

a win-win I'd have thought

OP posts:

Aderyn19 · 05/12/2019 17:20

I've taken to using the men's if there's a queue and I'm not anywhere dodgy. Since it's now okay for them to use ours.

SickNotes · 05/12/2019 17:21

I do the same @Aderyn19. Mind you, I've been doing it since before the definition of 'woman' was changed by some men having a feeling.

SickNotes · 05/12/2019 17:22

Oh, advice from a female friend. Don't do this in the Carnaby Street public loos.

Soubriquet · 05/12/2019 17:24

Another who will use the men’s if I really need to go or want to get where I’m going.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 05/12/2019 17:26

So you argue for single sex toilets by using the opposite sexes toilets? That makes sense, not.

How can we re purpose the cubicles in the men's toilets if there are urinals in there?

NotTerfNorCis · 05/12/2019 17:26

That struck me the other day at St Pancras station. Massive, slow queue at the Ladies. Alongside, men nipping in and out of their toilet no problem. This is where strict equality doesn't work - in busy places women need more loos!

Original poster

ListeningQuietly · 05/12/2019 17:27

I suspect many husbands / partners would be delighted to not have to wait an age while we are in the queue for the busy cubicles as well

OP posts:

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 05/12/2019 17:27

And sick note and soubriquet you've both been using the gents toilets since before this issue got going - so how can you, with a straight face, argue for single sex toilets when you've been actively creating unisex toilets?

FunnyInjury · 05/12/2019 17:28

I was physically removed from mens toilets in neighbourhood bar a place in Liverpool even after I explained I was gender non-conforming and identifying as a man that day 🤷‍♀️

Seems not everywhere got the memo

PlanDeRaccordement · 05/12/2019 17:29

I’ve been in men’s loos and 1) they are much smaller and dirty overall and 2) mostly urinals anyway. So, no, your idea makes all loos gender neutral and I prefer to wait for a cleaner loo than share with men.

The queue is because women take longer and we all need cubicles.
The only way to solve is to make even bigger with more cubicles in women’s loos.

FunnyInjury · 05/12/2019 17:30

Hear the fact that toilets are very rarely designed fairly for both sexes is an age old womens problem.

We need more cubicles, not more people using them!!

Preggosaurus9 · 05/12/2019 17:33

Well it's not like the men using the urinals have anything to be ashamed of, there's nothing to see if used correctly!

Original poster

ListeningQuietly · 05/12/2019 17:33

The only way to solve is to make even bigger with more cubicles in women’s loos.
Which costs a lot of money and is not possible in many buildings ....

Whereas my slightly childish solution would allow those who are not bothered by mixed bogs to get out of the way of those who are, much quicker at busy times

OP posts:

user1497207191 · 05/12/2019 17:34

You do realise there is usually a queue in the "gents" for men who prefer a cubicle? My OH and son often take longer than I've taken in a queue because the men's loo only has 1 or 2 cubicles so far slower "throughput" than a typical woman's loo with several.

The answer is for both to be knocked through and to have a single larger gender neutral loo. Not for the gents to be turned into a free for all whilst the woman's stays for women only.

user1497207191 · 05/12/2019 17:37

Well it's not like the men using the urinals have anything to be ashamed of, there's nothing to see if used correctly!

Lots of men's loos are basically a wall of aluminium with a drainage channel at the bottom, no privacy, no separation at all. They're certainly not all separate porcelain urinals!

LangCleg · 05/12/2019 17:39

I used to be able to vote and now it appears I can't? Or am I missing something?

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 05/12/2019 17:42

I can't vote either so apparently we're both on the naughty step!

And yes, if loos must be shared then men can share theirs. Or we can stop all this nonsense and accept the fact that most people prefer to pee in sex segregated spaces.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 05/12/2019 18:04

Well it's not like the men using the urinals have anything to be ashamed of, there's nothing to see if used correctly!

Couldn't the same argument be made for making the women's toilets unisex? We've got all cubicles in the ladies so nothing at all to see. If women are happy to walk past men using urinals in the gents I don't see how we can argue for single sex toilets and be expected to be taken seriously.

siring1 · 05/12/2019 18:19

At football grounds DH often uses the ladies' loo if there is a queue for the gents - it just makes sense.

Gingerkittykat · 05/12/2019 18:31

A lot of women, including me, want to retain single sex facilities for the sake of privacy and safety. I can't think of anything worse than being in a pub or nightclub and having to share a toilet with a bunch of drunk men.

I'm sure men want the privacy of using urinals without female eyes on them too.

The increased use of spycams in toilets is also a big issue. Keeping men out of the ladies cuts down that risk considerably.

The solution is proper planning, ie making the floorspace of the ladies much larger than the gents. You can have a third space for people who don't identify as male or female too.

Ereshkigal · 05/12/2019 18:35

If women are happy to walk past men using urinals in the gents I don't see how we can argue for single sex toilets and be expected to be taken seriously.

#notallwomen

Original poster

ListeningQuietly · 05/12/2019 18:49

In an ideal world and in all new builds, there is NO EXCUSE for the Queues
but in old and existing buildings, lateral thinking is needed.

Ideally of the light hearted variety to make the festive season less stressful

OP posts:

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 05/12/2019 19:17

At football grounds DH often uses the ladies' loo if there is a queue for the gents - it just makes sense.

Apparently this is fine then because posters here think it's fine for women to use the men's toilets so unisex toilets it is, clearly.

Nessaofbarry · 05/12/2019 19:20

So you argue for single sex toilets by using the opposite sexes toilets? That makes sense, not
100%

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 05/12/2019 19:28

DH will take our younger daughter into men's toilets as it's quicker than me queuing with her for the ladies. Not going to be an option for much longer with her getting older.
I have observed that even if both parents present, the children regardless of sex will go with the mother more often than not. Same with showers on campsites.

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