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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/she-said/2014/apr/17/unisex-changing-rooms-are-depriving-me-of-getting-naked-with-my-fellow-women
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Unisex changing rooms are depriving me of getting naked with my fellow women | Unisex changing rooms are depriving me of getting naked with my fellow women |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| My | My |
| local swimming pool has been undergoing refurbishment for many months, | local swimming pool has been undergoing refurbishment for many months, |
| during which period the men and women were forced into temporary, unisex | during which period the men and women were forced into temporary, unisex |
| changing rooms. It was all a bit uncomfortable, and awkward, but there | changing rooms. It was all a bit uncomfortable, and awkward, but there |
| was a certain blitz spirit about, and we smiled grimly at each other as | was a certain blitz spirit about, and we smiled grimly at each other as |
| we waited for the next available shower stall, and carefully | we waited for the next available shower stall, and carefully |
| choreographed our eye movements to avoid any appearance of staring. | choreographed our eye movements to avoid any appearance of staring. |
| Last | Last |
| week, I visited the refurbished pool for the first time. The new | week, I visited the refurbished pool for the first time. The new |
| changing facilities were roomier, brighter, even, for now at least, a | changing facilities were roomier, brighter, even, for now at least, a |
| tad cleaner. Unfortunately they were also still unisex. This appears to | tad cleaner. Unfortunately they were also still unisex. This appears to |
| be a new policy on the part of municipal leisure facilities – the | be a new policy on the part of municipal leisure facilities – the |
| Aquatic Centre in the Olympic Park operates a similar system – and I now | Aquatic Centre in the Olympic Park operates a similar system – and I now |
| feel as if all that time, I was taking exercise under false pretences. | feel as if all that time, I was taking exercise under false pretences. |
| You | You |
| can argue that feminists should have no issue with unisex changing | can argue that feminists should have no issue with unisex changing |
| rooms. We should be reveling in the liberté and egalité that has broken | rooms. We should be reveling in the liberté and egalité that has broken |
| down the barriers of plasterboard and hospital tiles, | down the barriers of plasterboard and hospital tiles, |
| and allowed us to stand locker-to-locker with our fellow man. We should | and allowed us to stand locker-to-locker with our fellow man. We should |
| rejoice that we are free to embrace our mutual humanity, and share our | rejoice that we are free to embrace our mutual humanity, and share our |
| shampoo. | shampoo. |
| After | After |
| all, it’s not like we’re expected to get naked in front of anyone: the | all, it’s not like we’re expected to get naked in front of anyone: the |
| etiquette of these new, communal changing areas are strictly and | etiquette of these new, communal changing areas are strictly and |
| repeatedly stated. Appropriate clothing must be worn in public, and all actual changing activity is confined to individual cubicles. So what’s the harm? | repeatedly stated. Appropriate clothing must be worn in public, and all actual changing activity is confined to individual cubicles. So what’s the harm? |
| After | After |
| I’d got over the shock of queuing behind a young Harry Styles-a-like | I’d got over the shock of queuing behind a young Harry Styles-a-like |
| for the hairdryer, I realised that my objection was not prudishness, but | for the hairdryer, I realised that my objection was not prudishness, but |
| rather the opposite. I’m no exhibitionist – although I don’t expect you | rather the opposite. I’m no exhibitionist – although I don’t expect you |
| to believe me after this argument – but perhaps for that very reason, I | to believe me after this argument – but perhaps for that very reason, I |
| have always appreciated the one small part of public life where women’s | have always appreciated the one small part of public life where women’s |
| bodies are allowed to be on display to each other, with no stigma, | |
| judgment or agenda. Where else do women feel safe enough to just let it | judgment or agenda. Where else do women feel safe enough to just let it |
| all hang out? | all hang out? |
| I fully appreciate that many women don’t | I fully appreciate that many women don’t |
| feel comfortable stripping off in front of strangers – that’s why those | feel comfortable stripping off in front of strangers – that’s why those |
| small cubicles, with their damp benches and their poorly positioned | small cubicles, with their damp benches and their poorly positioned |
| hooks, exist. But it seems good, to me, that one convention remained in | hooks, exist. But it seems good, to me, that one convention remained in |
| which it isn’t considered perverse, or embarrassing, to be naked among | which it isn’t considered perverse, or embarrassing, to be naked among |
| my fellow women. To be invisibly nude, and to know that that is still | my fellow women. To be invisibly nude, and to know that that is still |
| OK. | OK. |
| @em_john | @em_john |