Why the use of the "right" bathroom is such an big issue in the US? I life in Europe and travel a lot. As a woman with really good passing I sometimes use the man's bathroom if the the women's is to crowded. Before my FFS I looked very maleish but I used the women's bathroom of course when presenting as a women. In Asia or Europe it was never an issue. Nobody really cared.
If you identify as a woman itvis you right to use the women's bathroom in my opinion.
I could go into details about America's puritanical history, but to make a very long story short, blame organized religion. ::)
Land of the free ? :-\
It kind of depends on what you mean. If it's a general query then it comes down to women's bathrooms being considered "women only" spaces. The idea of someone whom they perceive to be male inside a "women's space" is considered an intrusion. In our culture men are often considered to be threats until proven otherwise.
If you're referring to incidents in schools and workplaces such as the business recently in Missouri where the high school student wanted to use the girls changing room and a walkout occurred then it's somewhat similar (a percieved male in a female space) plus in this girl's case she was facing a population that didn't entirely believe that she was trans*. Many cismales believe that she is just a teenage boy who is trying to get closer to their daughters. Their natural instinct is to protect their daughters from what they perceive to be a threat. Likewise many of the girls who were protesting probably still consider her to be male, and are acting accordingly.
Or you were asking a much simpler question and I've just been going on and on for no reason.
I don't really understand the question.
For me it is a matter of feeling safe and also just not belonging in the men's.
For example, there are three stalls and three urinals there, and 6 stalls in the women's. Am I going to lift up my skirt and use the urinal? Um.... no. Post op that's not even possible.
In some places the women's restroom has additional amenities like large, lighted mirrors. Some even have a waiting area with chairs.
Quote from: iKate on September 16, 2015, 11:39:36 AM
In some places the women's restroom has additional amenities like large, lighted mirrors. Some even have a waiting area with chairs.
I've always thought that was unfair! LOL.
Basically homophobic politicians lost their crusade against gay marriage (now known as "marriage") so their new favorite target is transgender people. Its the same old <blank> that was (and still is) directed at gay people about being predators or being a corrupting influence that will magically turn people LGBTQ.
Quote from: paula lesley on September 16, 2015, 09:37:16 AM
Land of the free ? :-\
Historical inaccuracy. The puritans moved here so they'd be free to hold witch hunts.
To answer Lara... it really depends on the city, perhaps neighborhood, you're in. In Seattle, Portland or San Francisco, you're free to go about your business, except for a few notably closed-minded individuals who have neither gotten with the program nor fled to their nearest Red Zone. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that even in large portions of Austin, TX, you'll be safe. But... truck stop more than 50 miles from a large city? I was always on my guard as a cisguy with long hair.
The bathroom thing in itself even goes down to the individual I'd guess. I've never had anyone even bat an eye at me going into the women's room and I live in the middle of the bible belt in Oklahoma. Even lately when I've been dressed in my I don't care clothes because I don't feel well no one questions me.
Quote from: sparrow on September 16, 2015, 06:10:12 PM
Historical inaccuracy. The puritans moved here so they'd be free to hold witch hunts
How far back are you going ! :o
Paula, <3 X.
I don't know really - perhaps the Puritanical thing feeds into greater consciousness about bodies and nudity? It's like, in Britain, it's generally considered to be little more than a loo and no-one generally cares too much who's in there!!!!
True story - I went in the ladies when (ostensibly) dressed as male in a bar. I was drunk and the sink was broken in the men's. As in completely broken!! There wasn't a functioning tap and no soap. So I went into the ladies to wash my hands. I had a brief chat with the girl at the sink about it and she didn't actually care.
Same goes for another situation where the cubicle in the men's was occupied by two men!! ;) They invited me in and I was like "OMG no!!". I still needed a wee, and with that going on I ran into the ladies and used that. One girl in there looked sideways; I explained why and she thought it was really funny. Looking back now, it was.
Now I tend to go out appropriately dressed, no-one even questions it. Why must America be so weird about a silly little issue? :o I go in there to carry out some basic needs, wash my hands and maybe sort my face out. That's about it. If I was a pervert, I'd at least have a hidden camera or something!! Not a pink Polaroid from Argos filled with pictures of friends and random selfies. :)
It might rain a lot here, and some of us are a bit miserable, but we get certain things right in this country xx
It might rain a lot here, and some of us are a bit miserable, but we get certain things right in this country xx
Here, Here. God bless you Dame Missy D :-*
Don't know about raining " a lot " we have not really had any summer at all >:( Still there is always the jolly sing songs to keep us all in good 'ealf and no mistake ;)
Paula, <3 X.