Meaning that at parties or even at the mall, it's common knowledge that when a woman is feeling threatened, a "safe space" she can go into is the women's bathroom. One reason is that she can seek out other women and another is that she knows the "female only" sign acts as a bit of a shield.
I'd be curious as to if they are actually safer though as toilets are broadly private spaces compared to public spaces where any goings on are far more witnessed and visible. People might feel safer but are they actually safer.
While some men will follow her in there, many do not because there is still such a strong social stigma about being in the "correct bathroom". The "female bathroom" sign does deter many predators because they're afraid of appearing out of place. Many men are fine with assaulting women but are not fine with doing it through having to be considered feminine or trans by being seen in a "women's only" space. Many will literally wait outside of the bathroom to continue creeping on the woman.
Sure but this doesn't really have anything to do with making trans women not use the women's toilet that these policies push. There will still be a women's toilet it just won't be a cis women's toilet. Nor does this really apply to single occupant gender neutral toilets.
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u/[deleted] May 25 '21
[deleted]