public gym showers

janninew

As a women I find her behaviour totally unacceptable, I would never in a million years walk into a male changing room! I can imagine how shocked I would be (and angry) if a man accompanied his daughters into the female changing room at the gym I attend. There aren't any cubicles and after having a shower there is a small period of time whilst you are near enough naked! Imagine being stood next to a strange male! I think if it were a man that had walked into the female changing rooms, the staff may have reacted differently!

ivylinn

What she did was inappropriate and the locker fee is no excuse, They could have changed in the pool rooms then she could have put their clothes in the ladies gym lockers.

The gym I go to (council run) has the same set up as yours, but the gym and its communal changing rooms are members only (age 16+) and it is enforced.

Kaz2904

Initially I thought that this might be due to the woman accompanying a group of school children but it seems that's not the case. When I escorted the children swimming from our school (aged 7&8), there were only Mums available to help out so the boys had to go into the ladies changing rooms. They were therefore put into the cubicles and then made to line up by the door (facing out) once dressed. That was the only way around having groups of boys tittering at ladies getting changed in the changing rooms.
I for one would be really cheesed off if a man stood watching me getting undressed/ dressed again and I would expect the same reaction from a man if I decided to stand and watch him. It's entirely inappropriate as an adult to be in the opposite sex changing rooms. Silly, silly woman. She obviously showed her true colours though by abandoning the other children in her care when she was forcibly removed. Sounds like a very childish woman IMHO.
Would like to point out that this is not about being afraid of seeing male bodies or nudity on my part- I'm a nurse and have seen it all before in all shapes and sizes but it's about what is right in the situation.

Gavin83

Emmzi wrote: »

Well in gender politics men are still in a position of greater power so the potential for abuse is generally greater, but that's a whole study module.

I think a bloke *lurking by the wall not staring at people* waiting for 5 8 year old girls might actually have been offered a hand by the other women there. That would match my experience of other mums, anyway.

Although I cannot recall seeing a man out on his own with that many children; maybe others have experience of that and can comment?

I honestly believe most women would freak if they saw a man in the female changing room. Would you find that acceptable?

What help would the women have offered the man in your example?

Emmzi

Gavin83 wrote: »

I honestly believe most women would freak if they saw a man in the female changing room. Would you find that acceptable?

What help would the women have offered the man in your example?

Sorry, since OP is undertaking soley some unpleasant ad hominen debating against me in this threat I have bowed out.

Gigglepig

It may not be "fair" but realistically it is a lot less culturally acceptable for a man to wander into a women's changing room.
From my own experience with mixed sports, most men don't care if there is a female in their changing room. (Some of their girlfriends on the other hand, do not like it....) Many ladies on the other hand feel very uncomfortable with men in the changing room, and may also find it very uncomfortable being stared at by boys.

Ideally the leisure facilities should have family changing rooms - and I'm sure many gym goers would also appreciate if there was a dedicated pool/rooms for the kids but that is a different debate.

As a customer I see why you are annoyed, but if the lady had the choice between taking boys into the women's room or accompanying them to the men's room well, either way some people would get annoyed.

custardy

Gigglepig wrote: »

It may not be "fair" but realistically it is a lot less culturally acceptable for a man to wander into a women's changing room.
From my own experience with mixed sports, most men don't care if there is a female in their changing room. (Some of their girlfriends on the other hand, do not like it....) Many ladies on the other hand feel very uncomfortable with men in the changing room, and may also find it very uncomfortable being stared at by boys.

Ideally the leisure facilities should have family changing rooms - and I'm sure many gym goers would also appreciate if there was a dedicated pool/rooms for the kids but that is a different debate.

As a customer I see why you are annoyed, but if the lady had the choice between taking boys into the women's room or accompanying them to the men's room well, either way some people would get annoyed.

but there was a third option
she chose not to use it

Gavin83

Gigglepig wrote: »

It may not be "fair" but realistically it is a lot less culturally acceptable for a man to wander into a women's changing room.
From my own experience with mixed sports, most men don't care if there is a female in their changing room. (Some of their girlfriends on the other hand, do not like it....) Many ladies on the other hand feel very uncomfortable with men in the changing room, and may also find it very uncomfortable being stared at by boys.

As a customer I see why you are annoyed, but if the lady had the choice between taking boys into the women's room or accompanying them to the men's room well, either way some people would get annoyed.

I honestly don't see what the difference between a man being in a female changing room is from the reversed situation. Neither are acceptable to be honest. I actually find the idea that it isn't a problem for a woman to be in a male changing room quite insulting. I agree that physically a man would be more likely to attack a woman but mentally there is no difference, both genders have equal capacity to be 'pervy'. It wouldn't even be the fear of attack anyway, I just wouldn't want to be stared at when I didn't expect to be.

I actually wouldn't have a problem with mixed changing rooms though. I think this is because your all in the same situation, instead of a fully clothed person being around naked people against their will.

To be honest if the children are old enough to care about naked people of the opposite sex they're old enough to get changed on their own.

sunshinetours

There are only two issues here
1. The woman should not ahve been in those changing rooms and didn't need to be as other suitable ones were available
2. Staff didn't do their job in removing her but sounds like this is sorted and woman has shown her true colours

As for people defending the woman's actions - seriously? Shame some (inc OP) seem to personally attack though as it gives those who argued for the woman a reason to "bow out" and not really explain how they honestly believe this can ever be acceptable

Gavin83

Emmzi wrote: »

Sorry, since OP is undertaking soley some unpleasant ad hominen debating against me in this threat I have bowed out.

Don't be so soft, this thread has loads of debate potential. If the OP is bothering you that much just ignore them.