Non Binary Gym Changing Rooms

[NevermindNelson]

I’ve just had an email from a gym I use explaining that their changing rooms are going to become gender neutral. I don’t even know where to start to reply. The email states that they’re proud to do this.

I want to reply with the reasons that I’m cancelling my membership, but all I’ve got so far is, “What, seriously?”

Maybe I should just send this - Just under 90 per cent of complaints regarding changing room sexual assaults, voyeurism and harassment are about incidents in unisex facilities. Because they have made the changing rooms unisex, haven’t they?

Edited to correct the term as ‘gender neutral’

@BCBird I’m on it. I’m sad, there were some really good classes, but I’m out of there.

Mine is The Gym Group and it's male and female.

I like the Gym Group. Good job there’s one fairly close to me.

There are some parents kicking up a major fuss with David Lloyd over this I recall. They're very child friendly gyms so the safeguarding implications of men claiming to be women undressing for swimming alongside teenage girls are significant.

Tell them you are proud to be asserting your boundaries by leaving.

No not all gyms are doing this, I specifically asked when I did a tour about this and was told that transwomen are told to use the family enclosed changing area.

@DreamItDoIt I think it’s that they’ve made such a big change after I’d joined. I’m glad to hear about your gym and they have a policy they’re happy to use.

@NevermindNelson a tactic may be that you ask how British Palestinian women of Muslim faith will be catered for. As they won't be able to use the mixed sex changing rooms. Your argument might be "you're taking a right-wing anti-Palestine approach in discriminating against them and Palestinian girls and women are currently under threat".

Just a thought.. it may rattle their heads!

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But why should she have to shelter behind other women who will also hate this and self-exclude? The OP's own feelings matter, and she is the one currently losing a well-loved facility because of these numpties.

What’s your gyms policy on children?

Some gyms allow membership from 13, some 16, 17. It varies but some gyms will allow under 18s. If they allow under 18s do they think mixed sex changing rooms are good policy?

Maybe some blue-tac and a few photocopies of the pie-chart from sex matters on the changing room doors? With a list of groups disadvantaged by this? If they are adding full height doors, remember men and women collapsing won’t be seen behind these plus the increase in antisocial behaviour in a private space.

Completely agree, but I enjoy winding up social justice warriors. Having to chose between being a TRA and pro-Palestine might cause them critical thinking discomfort.

My personal journey in to all of this was via a young Muslim woman at work and her being upset about mixed sex toilets. So whilst I am probably coming across as flippant I do think there's a valid argument to be made here.

The gym do not know that though. 😉

Is there a local newpaper or a Facebook page here an innocent question or two might be asked?

A;ways under the Mixed Sex umbrella?

.

Print a copy of that website with the stats and pin it to a locker in the womens’ changing room.

Me too. My Gym Group gym is 5 minutes’ walk away, so I change & shower at home. I’d still rethink my membership if they switched to mixed sex changing rooms & toilets though.

Holy shit, I thought this was gonna be a progressive thread about a sports centre deciding on a 3rd space changing area. How disappointing, as always.

The "as always" there would imply that this type of reaction to mixed sex changing rooms is common.

At that point it may serve well to ponder a moment on the "why?".

If most women are uncomfortable why push it?

What ?? Are they off their rockers. I would be cancelling immediately as well and would never step foot in any gym like that. I question the legality as well.

Mine has thinly frosted glass doors on the showers that don't even latch. Sometimes the towels they give out are quite small too. Men are well covered by a normal gym towel, but women need more coverage.

Every female changing room I've been in women change out in the open, honestly how is it possible to have men there especially with camera phones, also possibly minors as PP said.

It's a good idea to send the email to media outlets. Perhaps Twitter as well, with the pie chart posted earlier. Keep us updated, this is outrageous.

Ooooh yes do this! Name and shame.

Its early, so not sure I understand, but what I meant was I sometimes get my hopes up that things are getting better (thought the thread was going to be good news about a third space) but was disappointed to hear it is about men taking our spaces over yet again (need caffeine before I can be more coherent) but in a nutshell, gutted that these fucking bastard AGP's are getting MORE rights to our spaces rather than LESS 😡

@NevermindNelson it is worth being very specific in your questions with whatever gym you move to - most will says they have mens and women’s changing rooms, but most will let men who identify as women use the women’s so they are also mixed sex.

that’s why I’m with Bannatyne.

Yep, "mixed sex" is what they are. Nothing to be proud of and very bad for business.

I actually think a lot of men wouldn't like this setup either.