Quote:
Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby
True story: my first year of college, in a dorm of 30 complete and total strangers I knew nothing about. It was not only a co-ed dorm, but there were only 4 bathrooms that weren't part of a semi-private suite on the top floor. So around 20 of us shared 4 bathrooms. Strangely enough we managed. There was no womens' room or mens' room. If we heard the shower running, we'd call loudly to find out who was in it. If a guy answered when I knocked on the door, I'd yell that I'd come back later. Soon as he was out, I went in. If it was a woman, I'd tell her I'm coming in to use the toilet, or brush my teeth, or whatever.
Eventually it stopped mattering, but we were all adults and could handle a little awkwardness the first week of school.
Not a single one of them attempted to molest any of the others, or feel threatened by any of the others.
This whole "omg a man in a woman's bathroom is gonna molest mah babbeh" stuff is just paranoia. Even in shared bathrooms with individual toilet stalls, there's really nothing to worry about except MAYBE an 8-year-old boy peeking under the stall in a woman's bathroom, and giggling because he sees Susie perched on the toilet.
Trauma, it isn't.
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I am not a homophobe nor am I concerned with gender of any kind but I do think the man and woman signs are fine and see no reason for anyone to get their pink or blue knickers in a hitch to change them in order to appear kinder and more superior to others. You can't legislate kindness or acceptance and the ones who carry banners about bullying on this forum are often the most angry people looking to shout down others based on the others inferior assessment of the universe.
We cannot make people more sensitive by being harsh and mean. Most people are born with recognizable genitalia but many people have mannerisms and behavior that do not mesh with their equipment. No one likes to be looked down on. A lot of things dealt to us at birth are not a choice.
I don't think any of our very complicated problems about gender can be solved by changing the mens and ladies signs on bathrooms.