What LGBT should/shouldn't do

[Longhorn]

Even if we went with not allowing homosexuals into their respective changing rooms-which is ridiculous, impractical and unjustified-that leaves the question of what would we do with bisexuals?

[robvalue]

Out of interest, what would people say are the main reasons for gender segregation in nudity situations? Is this a hangover that isn't needed anymore? Possibilities:

Stopping embarrassment? Stopping groping/sexual assault? Children seeing... stuff?

Who would be OK with everyone thrown in together? Obviously cubicles is preferable for stopping any kind of problem, but they take up more space.

Maybe I'm missing something obvious.

[Pyrrho]

Out of interest, what would people say are the main reasons for gender segregation in nudity situations? Is this a hangover that isn't needed anymore? Possibilities:

Stopping embarrassment? Stopping groping/sexual assault? Children seeing... stuff?

Who would be OK with everyone thrown in together? Obviously cubicles is preferable for stopping any kind of problem, but they take up more space.

Maybe I'm missing something obvious.

My guess is that some men would harass women if everyone changed together.  It could be particularly problematic if at some time one man and one woman happened to be otherwise alone, so the man would have deniability (unless there are cameras in there, which would involve yet more problems), and even worse if there are a group of like-minded men and one woman.  My guess is, most women would not approve of everyone changing together.  But, and this is very important for this issue, this sort of thing may be variable such that in some cultures this may not be a problem.  So it might be fine in some countries.  But I think it would be a problem for women at least occasionally in the U.S.  Often enough that I think we should keep changing rooms separate.

As far as children seeing stuff goes, in the U.S., it is common for women to take tiny children of either sex into women's restrooms.  This is done up to the age when they are considered old enough to go to a public restroom on their own.

Anyway, in the U.S. at least, I think it is a good idea to have separate changing rooms at gyms for men and women.

[robvalue]

But I was thinking, it's not that different from people being together in another environment. If there's three blokes and a women in an office, and no one else can see what is going on, what's the difference?

I'm not trying to be awkward, I'm genuinely trying to see why this is different. But I can totally see why women would be uncomfortable with men around while changing, I have no problem with that. But the idea that because there are states of undress going on people are more likely to perform sexual attacks... I don't know! I suppose those with lesser self control may impulsively do things they otherwise wouldn't. And, you could get a lesbian doing exactly the same thing in an all-women changing room.

I suppose it's the best compromise, and people do seem generally happy with it. I've never given it much thought before. In England prudishness is a national sport, so I doubt it's going away any time soon here either.

[Pyrrho]

But I was thinking, it's not that different from people being together in another environment. If there's three blokes and a women in an office, and no one else can see what is going on, what's the difference?

Harassment does sometimes happen then (probably a lot more than most people realize), so it is not completely a matter of nudity.  In fact, it is not really ever a matter of nudity per se.  But:

I'm not trying to be awkward, I'm genuinely trying to see why this is different. But I can totally see why women would be uncomfortable with men around while changing, I have no problem with that. But the idea that because there are states of undress going on people are more likely to perform sexual attacks... I don't know! I suppose those with lesser self control may impulsively do things they otherwise wouldn't.

Yes.  And that is sufficient justification for having separate changing rooms.

And, you could get a lesbian doing exactly the same thing in an all-women changing room.

It is certainly possible, and I imagine it does happen occasionally.  But I doubt it is a common problem.  Perhaps you should ask women about this, to find out how many of them have ever seen any examples of this happening.

I suppose it's the best compromise, and people do seem generally happy with it. I've never given it much thought before. In England prudishness is a national sport, so I doubt it's going away any time soon here either.

Things like this should involve thinking about the matter practically.  Ideally, there would be no need for separate rooms at all, but we do not live in an ideal world.

[robvalue]

I could see how it could also become embarresing for men *ahem*!

I'm gonna go bust into some female changing rooms and ask them some questions about how comfortable they feel.