Debunking 'Gender is a social contruct.'

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In my country, free public toilets are slowly becoming the norm.

The reason is simple: the cities and gas stations (the most common providers) prefer to keep restrooms free over dealing with people trying to relieve themselves around and cleaning after them.

In France (and in the UK, too), there is usually about a 50 cent (or pence) charge to use the bathrooms even in train stations.

Then you have old-fashioned facilities where there's an attendant who expects to be tipped.

I believe that's a travesty.

Yep. There are "codes" in some McDonald's in European places. And perhaps a very few American places.

In urban areas of the US, a worker usually has a key to the bathroom, or a person can be "buzzed in" by a worker.

In rural and suburban areas, the bathrooms are usually open to all. There is no key, or buzzing in. Most management, if you're not disturbing anybody, will not mind it if you use the bathroom for free. This goes for fast food places, gas stations, truck stops, stores which have multiple purposes, rest areas, etc.

Of course, there are exceptions....but I believe a picture of a male person, and a picture of a female person serves the practical purpose in the vast majority of cases.

I believe a "gender neutral" person can get away with going into a men's room, at least, if he/she doesn't bring attention to his/her self. Men don't have time to look at everybody who goes into their bathroom. Some men urinate sitting down; it's not all that unusual.

It's a little different for the ladies' room---because women are more vigilant about having women, rather than men, in their bathroom, for obvious reasons.

Have you had bad encounters in the men's room?

I'm sorry if you did.

To me, a toilet is a toilet. They make the same brand of toilets in both men's and women's washrooms. I would just go in, do my stuff, and get out.

I think women's bathrooms have more privacy, anyway----because they have stalls, rather than urinals.

But I get where you're coming from, too.

I should probably stay away given my history of being warned and banned for posting about this topic, but it should be obvious why those "horrible TERFs" have problems with the latest trans-x politics and activism. I hear it's mainly British feminists that get uppity about it on twitter for some reason. I wish I knew why it's British feminists leading the charge, it's probably more interesting than the topic itself.

It's hard to "hold it in" all day. CR was saying that he holds it in all day because he has a hard time choosing which bathroom to go to.

I find that to be a pity. I find that people should be able to go to the bathroom when they feel they have to go to the bathroom.

That's why I was addressing this.

Gender and sex are two different things.

Sex is a biological construct that expresses one’s objective reproductive function.

Gender is an ego-based construct that expresses one’s subjective personal identity.

I've been told I shouldn't be allowed in women's restrooms because I appear male.

The kicker is, I'm biologically female and do not identify as a man. Why should I be forced to hold it in just because some random bimbo is "uncomfortable" with me in the bathroom?

As for separating things on the basis of genitals, that ignores the reality of transgender bodies. Not every trans person can afford to get "bottom" surgery, and not every trans person even wants to. I don't think it's a very good idea to have a transwoman who has been on HRT for years, has boobs, and dresses as a woman be required to use the men's room just because she happens to have a penis. Also, intersexed people are a thing. People cannot be divided solely along the lines of "penis or vagina."

^My late sister was gay and was very masculine in appearance, even occasionally being mistaken for a man. I never once heard her say she felt uncomfortable in a woman's restroom or that anyone had a problem with her going in one. Could be she just never felt like talking about it, I don't know.

I certainly sympathize with some of the concerns brought up in this thread, but I'm just don't believe you can force societal changes through legislation. You can't demonize someone who is uncomfortable with allowing a biological male in their space in a locker room, and tell them they need to change their attitude. We're in new territory, here. It's going to take time to find our way.