fitting room

In the past, I never had a problem with unisex changing rooms... usually people tend to mind their own business and go about their day. It wasn't until last year...I was in a unisex changing room trying on a couple of items when I heard a man moaning in the stall next to mine. I had no idea if he was staring at me through a peephole or if he was getting off at the thought of being in a mixed changing room...I don't know... but...the situation fucked with my mind! I am traumatized.... my paranoia and discomfort in unisex spaces has peaked an all-time high! You think that in these type of situations you'll know what to do...but you don't it catches you off guard and disturbs your entire spirit. I can't sleep at night knowing that men want access to female-only spaces. I wish they'd leave us alone.

#unitedstates #fittingroom #changingroom

women’s shelter

I run a small women's shelter that's been receiving requests to open itself to transgender-identified males. Seeing what women at the shelter go through in their own lives and the efforts they put to improve their circumstances has made me acutely aware that women need a space to grow and develop at a pace and in an environment away from men. I do not feel the calls for this inclusion are being made by "transgender women" who care about women or their circumstances. I feel this is cruel, inconsiderate virtue-signaling from individuals who have never gotten close to experiencing homelessness. Even those using the shelter oppose it, but forces outside the shelter make it seem impossible to remain female-only for much longer.

#unitedstates #womensshelter #homelessness

gym changing rooms

I was changing in my gym's changing room (ladies' one) and saw what looked like a woman with short hair coming out of a cubicle. I was in a state of nearly full undress . S/he turned and it was actually a man--probably a trans person, but male-bodied nonetheless. I froze on the spot, he smiled, but then realised I was quite shocked... so turned and left. I am no pushover and am quite used to communal spaces, but not with males... and felt immensely distressed and intimidated by this episode... The second time this happened (with a different individual) I was pregnant and I was feeling even more exposed. About 2 years later, same changing room... this time the person in question was quite young and dressed in a feminine way though still male bodied and male-looking... and was accompanied by a female friend who seemed to stare around the room, to other users... just in case we objected? Which nobody did. It was really intimidating, and as I said, my state might have compounded this feeling.

#unitedkingdom #gym #changingrooms