Unisex changing rooms coming to Rosemont pool
The new aquatic complex in Rosemont, meant to be completed next year, will have unisex changing rooms on the basis of some theory of social innovation, although the article hints at authorities tiptoeing around whether everyone is comfortable with this. The project is an enlargement of this rather nice Art Deco building on 8e Avenue.
Update: Friday, the Journal also has this story, with more quotes from the city’s Nathalie Goulet, who somehow equates this step with allowing women into jobs previously only held by men. Sorry, Mme Goulet, that’s nonsense.
Michael Black 19:49 on 2019-09-12 Permalink
Is it social innovation, or concern about people who may not fit a binary view of the world?
A year or two Westmount High added a unisex bathroom. And certainly there is some level of concern about people in the “wrong” bathroom, either real or imagined concern.
i recall a story from I think last year about people being too naked in a swimming pool changing room somewhere in Montreal. I think someone complained, but it didn’t sound like the too-naked person was doing something inappropriate for a changing room. Some people are more comfortable than others. I somehow got the impression that women were less comfortable in changing rooms.
Michael
Kate 20:14 on 2019-09-12 Permalink
Nathalie Goulet is quoted saying “Il faut réaliser ces projets-là […] pour innover socialement.”
Michael, I will probably reveal myself to be old-fashioned here, but I’d prefer not to see any wobbling willies in a public place where I’m getting undressed. Note that the article says the actual changing cubicles will be closed, but there will be people who won’t respect that.
You are right that the question of too much nudity in swimming pool changing rooms was an issue, at least in Brossard two years ago.
I suppose it’s progress if, instead of people being relaxed around members of their own gender, the facility is “inclusive” but everyone has to shower and change in an individual cubicle. More expensive to build, though.
Faiz Imam 20:24 on 2019-09-12 Permalink
“but there will be people who won’t respect that.”
As someone who has spent enough time in a lock room to see plenty of things i’d have rather not seen, I feel like people will react to how the space is contextualized. Architecture affects socialization. and If people see other people grabbing their clothes and heading towards the private changing stalls, then they’ll do the same.
I probably will never visit this place, but I’m very interested to see what this actually looks like. If its designed right, then issues *should* be minimal.
But yeah. They should expect miscommunication and complaints for a while. I’m sure there will be more than a few incidents.
Tim S. 21:50 on 2019-09-12 Permalink
It depends on if there are enough cubicles. There’s a family changing room at the new pool in NDG, but only 3 cubicles, I think, which is completely inadequate, especially at the beginning and end of lessons. So there are sometimes naked people. On the other hand, I went to one in Switzerland that had a common locker area, many cubicles, and gender-segregated washrooms. It was great.
In sum, if you make it practical, there’s no need for this to be an ideological issue. If you start with ideology, on the other hand, it will probably turn out annoying.
GC 22:58 on 2019-09-12 Permalink
I’ve been to piscine Lévesque and it didn’t seem like a big deal to anyone. If I recall correctly, the showers were still open, implying you had to shower while still wearing your swimwear. But, yes, there were private changing stalls and everyone was using them.
Faiz Imam 03:45 on 2019-09-13 Permalink
“implying you had to shower while still wearing your swimwear.”
All pools have two sets of showers. one is right outside the pool area, and is there to wash away excess chlorine. Suppose to be a quick rinse.
Then inside the lockrooms there is usually a second set of showers for normal use.
JaneyB 09:14 on 2019-09-13 Permalink
Showering with swimwear on and cubicles enough for 100 changers or I assume, waiting in line until one becomes free. I’m sure I’m not alone in finding this idiotic. Is it too hard to make another room for the trans/non-binary/intersex folk?
I recently learned that the too-naked anxiety in women’s changing rooms is because of the ubiquity of smartphones and their cameras. At the YMCA downtown, this seems less evident to me. I think they have signs reminding people about the camera problem and it seems to be working for the moment.
Chris 22:31 on 2019-09-13 Permalink
Maybe people are just skipping the shower and that’s why we have so much BO on the bus? 🙂
GC 22:46 on 2019-09-15 Permalink
Faiz Imam, I’m just describing what I remember at Lévesque. I don’t know how the plans for Rosemont might differ. The shower area inside the unisex locker room was an open room, without cubicles, so the only way to have privacy was in the changing cubicles–not in the shower. Since I was heading home after, this was not a big deal.