By CASSIE WHITE
In the past two months I’ve seen a lot of vagina.
And no, I haven’t just realised that I’m a lesbian. I’ve joined the gym.
There seems to be something about women being segregated from men that gets many of us really excited to let it all hang out.
Each trip into the bathroom, I steel myself to wade through an ocean of breasts and genitals on my way to the loo.
To be absolutely clear, I’m not talking about momentary nip slips or quick, covert changes of underwear. I’m talking about full-on, full-frontal, unashamed birthday-suit action.
And this isn’t about ladies feeling comfortable in the anonymity of strangers. It’s girlfriends after a workout, colleagues, mothers and daughters – all laughing and chatting, buck naked, making no attempt to cover themselves up.
Meanwhile, rows of lockable changing cubicles stand neglected.
I’ve even seen one woman ironing – IRONING!
Just yesterday, the first thing I saw when I walked in was a completely nude woman bending over and touching her toes. Unfortunately for me, I was at the back end of her.
I’m not saying women should be ashamed of their bodies. In fact, I’m the first to admit to feeling stabbing pains of jealousy when confronted by a toned, cellulite-free butt attached to long legs. My whole life I’ve assured myself that no matter how amazing women can look on the outside, everyone has lumps and bumps under their clothes. That theory has now been brutally shot down in flames.
My problem is this: why unnecessarily display your vajayjay? Is it that hard to wrap a towel around yourself, or duck into a changing room? Who can say they’ve been next to someone in spin class who they’ve never spoken to, yet know their preferred method of bikini-line grooming? I can.
Any men reading this might be experiencing flashbacks to plot lines of 1980s porn flicks. But I assure you, there’s nothing sexy about these scenes.
Nobody wants to side-step a stranger drying themselves a bit too thoroughly or put their bag down on a bench still warm from someone’s sweaty, post-workout bits. So ladies, please, I beg you: put it away.
Before you write me off as a massive prude – I visited several traditional bathhouses when I was in Japan this year. And yes, I stripped off and sat in steaming onsens with plenty of naked women, then got dressed without the luxury of doing it somewhere private.
I’m not offended by nudity – I just don’t want to see you naked. And I can’t be sure but I don’t think the added bonus was included in my fortnightly membership fee.
Cassie White is a journalist at Men’s Health magazine and freelance writer. On Sundays she bakes (like a boss) and Instagrams all her creations. Follow her on Twitter here.
Are you comfortable with seeing other people naked? Do you think there is a time and a place for nudity? Is it okay at the gym?
Comments
255 Comments so far
Sorry but i am one of those who gets naked at the gym. I do not see a problem with it. We all have the same bits….only slightly different proportions.
I probably spend as much time naked in the locker room as I spend time clothed in the gym. I am the one who walks around naked and showers naked (not all do) saunas naked and dries my hair and …… I do carry a towel as I travel around the locker room I just don’t wear it. I prefer to let my skin air dry, when I towel off it removes the natural oil from my skin and my skin gets very dry.
I think if you have issues about nudity in a locker room you probably have other issues as well. Nakedness itself is not a bad thing, actually it is the one thing we all have in common. Its what our minds do with it that makes it un common. A lot has been said about bendind over and flashing bits and such , well from my perspective its hard to get dressed without doing some of that. If you are looking at my lips or anus your staring so go ahead andd look other wise don’t look in the first place.
If I decide to spend the whole day in the locker room nude who cares. A gf and I have actually almost done that. We went to work out but got lazy and went to the sauna instead. then showered and spread out our towels on a couple of chairs and chatted away. Eventaully did a bit of stretching and stuff and then repeated the whole thing …yes nude the entire time. So if you were going to complain about us being nude so long and “showing ” off why were you there so long watching…isn’t that more pervy? By the way there are no rules against it.
On another nore about change rooms and kids. Why do some people feel they have the right to impose their hangups on others especially kids. Recently I took my 7 yr old niece to swimming lessons.I did not spend excessive time naked with her.we would arrive and quickly change to our swimwear. Yes we would get totaly naked in front of each other but it was only to change but she she saw me naked. In all the time (10 weeks) we were together her only question to me was would she get hair there like me and why don’t some people have hair .
Then when we finished our lesson we would come into the locker room and get towels and go to the showers , still wearing our swimwear. the showers were communal. Once in the shower we would rinse off and then remove our suits and quickly rinse our bodies, no soaping or shampooing involved , just rinsing. So our time naked in the shower was very limited becasue as soon as we rinsed we wrapped up in our towels and headed to the sauna to get warmed up , pool and showers were never warm enough.
Once in the sauna w ewould sit on the benches and chat till warm ..still wearing our towels.Though other women were naked in the sauna we never did.when we got warm enough we would go back to our clothes and then would remove our towels and get dressed so nudity was very limited.
Funny part was I told her mom about our routine and she thought that it was good for her. Her mom said niece never once said anything about getting changed or mentioned anything about the naked women or us being nude…she accepted it as something you just did there. But everyday I was there with her at least one woman who was hiding to get changed didn’t mind telling me I should keep niece covered or that I shouldn’t let her see me naked or anyone else for that matter.
Its becasue of attitudes like those women have issues with there bodies.
The thing to remember in all of my ranting here is if you don’t like to see me naked then don’t look…and if you are complaining about me being there naked for so long ask your self why you sat there so long and looked if it only takes a few minutes to change!!
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I couldn’t agree more. I work at a gym and I love that women feel comfortable enough to freely change without judgement, ridicule or sideways glances.
I draw the line, however, at women who throw a leg up on the counter while they use a hair dryer to dry their downstairs hair-do…..really ladies? REALLY? Call me a prude if you will.
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You are a prude. Sorry. Get over yourself.
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When I was pregnant with Bub #1, I used to to aqua-aerobics to help ease SPD as well as a way to keep fit. The class consisted of the following
- Elderly ladies, the youngest of which was 67.
- Elderly men
- Youg muscular Footballers with injuries doing Aqua as part of rehab
- Rather pregnant me.
After class, I’d go into the changerooms to shower and change. I was always met with more skin than I’d prefer to see. I’m not a prude AT ALL, but when a naked 80+ year old lady bends over in front of you, then asks you to “Help with my slip, please dear”, it changes a person!
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I don’t have a problem with others being naked..not at all..it’s been part of my work over the years to have ‘hands on’ close contact with hundreds of bodies ( nurse..not prostitute; although I believe the first nurses in Sydney were prostitutes..but that’s another story..)…it’s all good..most bodies are not stereotypically gorgeous, some are hilarious, tiny, large, firm, flabby, pale, podgy, tight, obese, starved, asymetrical, beautiful..I could go on…I have only ever been put off by……the smell of a body….in regular life..that’s where I draw the line….when we humans smell bad? It’s a nauseating reminder that we ALL contain a faeces factory, special little glands that stink when unwashed and we ALL live in a perpetual state of secretion…..I like to think about these things when I see a ‘perfect’ body..makes me feel better about my not so perfect one..
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I saw this today and it made me laugh. I thought you may enjoy it too:
http://whatshouldwecallme.tumblr.com/post/25717938051/when-i-see-people-changing-in-the-gym-locker-room
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People have human bodies under their clothes, gosh, what a horrifying surprise! What, exactly, is the “correct” amount if time to be naked in a change room and how did you become the authority? How is this attitude anymore acceptable than judging a woman for what she wears or how she looks? How is this any better than bullying people because you think they should behave differently to how they do? Why should someone hide their body because you don’t want to see it? Sounds like your problem really, not an excuse to judge other women.
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I currently live in China and this is the norm over here. Any activity in the nude is fair game once you are in the change rooms at the gym. I once witnessed in one go: 3 naked and one clothed man playing mahjong and a man, leg up on the basin, using a hair dryer to dry his *ahem* back door region.
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I hear you sistah. I don’t need to see no lady’s breakfast.
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“I’m not a prude. I just don’t want to see you naked.”
Agreed. If you *are* going to be naked, at least please minimise the gynaecological poses while changing.
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I think it’s a sign of the times that women are getting more comfortable with their bodies. Imagine men in the locker room (especially footy)? If they can be free, why can’t we? Just so long as we don’t slap each other on the backsides and make poor jokes about bodies, like guys do. We need to remember that not everyone is comfortable being naked in front of others.
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Most locker/change rooms that I’ve been in sound more modest than those described by Cassie. Only fully nekkid when necessary, towels when not actually putting clothes on.
In my experience, women seem more comfortable with stripping than men, every skinny dip that I’ve been involved with have been suggested by women.
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I wish I had a choice but to be nude in the change rooms at my gym.
There are NO shower cubicles, just shower heads sprouting from the wall. You need to hang your towel at least 5m from where you’re showering (a very cold dash in the winter) and the walk to your clothing/belongings is another 5 paces.
On the plus side, my gym membership is very cheap!
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I dunno what I think about this one. And I go to the gym most days of the week!!! Must say, I’ve never noticed any overt nakedness. Just the usual getting-dressed kind!? I must pay more attention!
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Listen, nudity is cool. That’s fine. Be naked. But for goodness sake, it’s not entirely pleasant to be on the receiving end of butt-in-the-face.
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HERE HERE!
So true!
I think the issue, for me, is that you don’t get a choice.
There isn’t a “keep your clothes on where possible” change room. And chances are if you are at the gym, or swimming etc, you are going to have to use the change room. It’s like they get me in a room, then flaunt themselves – where I don’t have a choice out of the matter.
Reality is – that’s the way it is. Either don’t use the change room or deal with it. But I do always find it weird when women prance around naked. Why do you need me to see your body??
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I wouldn’t consider myself a prude sexually, but getting naked around ANYONE – male or female – other than someone I’m about to have sex with just feels flat-out weird to me.
It’s got nothing to do with how I feel about my body – whether or not I think it’s attractive. I just feel private about it; in much the same way as there are topics I might not want to discuss with some random person.
I don’t think I’d care as much as this above writer does about others getting naked around me – they can do what they like – but there wouldn’t be so much as a ‘nip slip’ from me in the change room. If possible, I change in a cubicle.
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Ooh I think my comment was deleted. Was it because I pointed out that what Cassie is seeing on women is most likely their vulvas, not vaginas? Was it because I said clitoris? Or was it because I didn’t say va-jay-jay or lady-flower or whatever stupid infantile name that is being used to describe vaginas these days?
It wasn’t a rude or mean comment to point out to Cassie what her own body parts are called, it’s science!
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I think it was probably nothing to do with your use of correct terminology and everything to do with your overt sarcasm.
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Where was I being sarcastic? I don’t think that word means what you think it means. Try “bluntness” on for size perhaps.
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I didn’t keep a copy of your comment but I remember reading it and thinking, “Oh, that’s nice. I wonder if she would say that to the author’s face.”
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I believe I had said it to the internet version of her face, and I’m happy to run through a quick sex-ed lesson with Cassie if I ever do meet her. I have no issue with calling a vagina a vagina and a labia a labia in public either. That’s what they are.
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Michaela, I think sometimes that even if the comment isn’t meant to be rude or mean, the tone can be misread so that it comes across in a negative way – and around here we do try to keep things opinionated but respectful. Thank you.
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No problem, understand that any comment online can come off differently than intended, will use more emoticons in future to soften tone.
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I’m supportive of young women being exposed to real womanly bodies with all its shapes and sizes (as opposed to the stereotype model bodies we often see) and it should be celebrated of course! However… A part of me does feel slightly uncomfortable when I see the whole vagina on show, I guess perhaps it always catches me unaware as im walking into the change rooms or not really prepared to see the whole full frontal. I’m A-OK with wearing lingerie or an underwear and bra etc… Or the accidental slip of the towel that flashes you, that’s absolutely fine, but the whole walking around butt naked completely oblivious to everyone else is a bit too in-your-face. I don’t think this is about not accepting of our bodies, for me it has more to do with basic decency for others as I am sharing public space with them.
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I am no prude at all but I think common politeness should play a role in all this. I too, have been quite shocked by the actions of women in gym changerooms – ironing naked, moisturising stark naked (why not just put your knickers and / or bra on whilst doing this?!), blowdrying places I didn’t think one would etc. Although I have no problem with women getting dressed and taking their time whilst naked doing so, but there are tasks that many women do in gym change rooms that would be just as effective with a little attire on. It is politeness / decency in my opinion. I think good on you Cassie for bringing this to light and speaking out. Good on you women who are proud of your bodies and are happy to share your nakedness, but please show some politeness in public places. Show the same courtesy you would in other shared public places. Respect the women who either are not as comfortable with nudity or don’t appreciate your bits on display. There should be some middle ground…
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I have enjoyed reading this article (and the comments) – thanks Cassie!
I am not really sure which side of the fence I sit on with this: on the one hand I have no problem with nudity and am a relatively open person and nothing much bothers me – but on the other hand a part of me thinks I might cock my head sideways if I saw someone ironing in their buff, or blow drying their pubic hair with the communal bathroom hand dryer…
My first experience with communal nudity was when my girlfriends and I went on a holiday just after our year 12 exams and stayed at a backpacker hostel. There were doors on the showers but one morning as I was doing my hair a lady was showering with the door wide open – I did not gawk at her by any means but saw her long enough to think to myself how incredibly beautiful she was. She was a larger girl, quite curvy… and she looked amazing.
We women are GORGEOUS creatures! All shapes, all sizes. Let’s celebrate it!!
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Great post (and I can’t believe it hasn’t been on MM before). I’m all right being nude, and seeing nude women as long as we are all STRANGERS. I don’t want to see my friends (or even my sisters) naked. I have no idea why.
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I once belonged to a gym where a mildly well-known (at the time) woman was also a member. I used to get changed & clear out of the changeroom so fast if she came in while I was there, because I thought it would be prying if I saw her naked.
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This is probably the most bizarre article I’ve seen on here in awhile. Complaining about women doing something as simple as getting dressed or undressed and then swearing you’re not a prude doesn’t really add up. So what if a group of females feel comfortable with parading round in the nude? For some it’s probably a confidence building or reassuring experience. After all, there aren’t many places around where women can get communally naked these days.
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I am undecided on this one. Some people have pointed out that our daughters seeing real, natural women (as opposed to photoshopped/surged ones) is probably a good thing, and I can’t disagree with that.
But, it does make me a little uncomfortable. Not so much if people are just getting changed or whatever, but standing around naked for prolonged periods of time does make me feel awkward, and it has a tendency to make me start comparing and judging. Myself and others.
I like clothes. Clothes are good.
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I find it interesting that Cassie has told these stories in the context of taking a trip to the loo and walking through the changing area instead of just in the context of being in the changing room because she is using it to get changed too.
This leads me to ponder if Cassie actually uses the change rooms at her gym for changing or if she changes somewhere else. Strange thing to ponder I suppose but it leaves me feeling that possibly Cassie does not change in the change rooms herself, could this be because she feels further uncomforted by being one of the naked masses?
It may help to explain some things about Cassies viewpoint here if I had a better understanding of the level of her own personality when it comes to prudishness or exhibitionism. For example, if Cassie makes a habit of not using the change rooms because she herself feels uncomfortable changing in front of others, she could also be projecting that onto the other people there. Perhaps there is some subconscious anger or resentment there, like “Hey why aren’t they feeling as uncomfortable as I am, this isn’t fair” type thing.
I’m not trying to be disrespectful here, I’m just looking at it from a psychologically analytical viewpoint.
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Not very psychologically analytical of you, Freud….
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How so? Or not so? More phsychological detective work I suppose.
Cassie – I am really and genuinely interested to hear this from you – do you actually change in the changerooms yourself? If not why not?
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Hi everyone. Just a quick reminder of our dinner party rules. Cassie is a guest at our delightful dining table, just like all of the comments – and she should be treated respectfully. Feel free to disagree with her but do it politely. Please keep sharing your comments though – we’ve still got a while before dessert is served
Jamila x
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Was the sarcasm necessary? Would you say that to Cassie’s face?
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I feel a little awkward, but thats really my own issues! When ever i have been at the gym it doesnt bother me too much if others are naked, as long as I dont have to stand and have a convo with them while they are starkers, but I dont walk around naked! I will get changed and maybe stand facing the locker with undies on while i find clothes, but I dont like even being naked around my husband, so I wont be naked around strangers!so I just get my clothes on and move on….I am such a weirdo like that though…If I have to see nakedness around me, I am actually so at ease with it, but me personally taking my kit off is another story! I am pretty sure that if I was trim and not all wobbly after 2 kids it would be a different story! But Honestly, woman need to have showers and get changed after the gym, so whatevs! as long as they dont spread eagle in my face they can go for gold…i probably wont think one more thought of it after i walk out of there!
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You know, I read the comments on here and I wonder how Mia finds people who are willing to submit articles in the first place. So many angry people waiting to rip them to shreds & tell them how wrong they are.
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You don’t think people who write opinion pieces are aware that their chosen topic will create passionate discussion and possibly some backlash?
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There’s passionate discussion and there’s rudeness. If backlash equals rudeness then I think a few people need to have a look at themselves.
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“Rudeness” is subjective.
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Really? Cold has made a great point and to brush it aside with the word ‘subjective’ is far too easy.
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Yes. So is this topic. Fortunately the Mamamia staff get to decide what’s rude & what’s not. Some posts have already been deleted for being rude to either Cassie or other posters.
The tone here has dropped recently. I’m calling it how I see it.
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Absolutely agree
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Thanks for your feedback Cold. We do keep a close eye on comments (even on weekends!) and delete anything that is abusive to our contributors or other commenters. Also feel free to use the ‘Alert Moderator’ button if you ever think something needs our attention. x
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I find that rudeness here = any disagreeing comment. Wish the comments here would work more like Jezebel, much more respect used regardless of personal opinion.
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I do this at the gym and pool all the time. I refuse to allow anyone to make me feel ashamed for having my clothes off for a few minutes whilst I am getting changed. I don’t care if you’re looking, I don’t care if you’re judging, I don’t care if the sight of my body repulses you, makes you feel uncomfortable, or even turns you on. Why? Because I am simply getting changed and getting on with the rest of my day. I am just doing something normal, I am not sitting there paranoid that the sight of my nipples might leave someone with an all-day trauma. The problem is YOURS, not mine, and I will not let someone try and make their problem my problem.
If seeing someone naked offends you, then don’t look. Simple isn’t it? Sure, you might catch a flash of pubes or nipple now and again, but it sounds like most of the commenters here are taking a damn good gander! If you can’t handle it, go into your little cubicle so you don’t have to see it, but don’t try and tell me or anyone else that we should be in the little cubicles because, once again, YOUR problem not ours.
This is absolutely 100% normal behaviour for a gym changing room. Yes if a lady is shoving her vulva in your face, being sexually explicit in any way, dancing on the benches or otherwise being inappropriate (there’s a huge difference) then sure, get offended (and report them to the gym management) but otherwise we’re all just doing our thing, not getting in your face, just doing normal human things like getting changed. And no I am not going to do some time-wasting and completely silly looking Houdini-esque double towel trick just so you don’t have to even catch a glimpse of my butt for 5 seconds. Why should I have to?
Body shaming is a very negative thing and I believe that this article is perpetuating it somewhat. YES you are all entitled to feel the way you feel and all of your opinions are valid. However, who do you think you are to basically try and make people feel ashamed of getting changed (or the length of time it takes them to do so) just because it offends your delicate sensibilities?
Also, look up the definition of the word ‘prude’ – it means a person who shows an excessively modest nature. In this scenario I think that most of you fit this description, I consider this article to be displaying an excessively modest viewpoint. If you have prudish opinions then there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but at least own the fact that your opinion is prudish, don’t deny and thus contradict yourself because that actually takes weight away from your argument. And don’t try and push your view onto others in the form of attempting to get people to modify their behaviour to fit in with your ideal. If you have an issue, take steps to deal with it or remove yourself from the situation, don’t expect everyone else to change.
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Excellent over reaction to the post there. Did you actually read what she said?
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Yes, every word. Please explain how my opinion is an overreaction.
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Did you read the post and think, “Wow, she’s talking about me? That’s what I do?” Do you iron naked? Do you dry your hair naked? Do you bend over and wave your arse near someone elses face?
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I actually don’t do any of those things. But I am finding it hard to understand why so many seem to feel so threatened by these actions.
The writer says “My problem is this: why unnecessarily display your vajayjay? Is it that hard to wrap a towel around yourself, or duck into a changing room?” and later summarises the piece with the line “I’m not offended by nudity – I just don’t want to see you naked.” and whilst the article does touch on some more extreme instances like the lady ironing, on the whole it offers a more general opinion that anyone who has their “vajayjay” (what a godawful word) out for longer than the writer deems is necessary to complete a “normal” clothing change procedure is an exhibitionist who is purposely remaining naked in an innapropriate (what the writer considers to be innapropriate anyway) and “unnecessary” manner.
According to the writer we must complete “quick, covert changes” so she does not have to steel herself to “wade through an ocean of breasts and genitals”. This clearly shows that whilst the writer did touch on some extreme examples, generally if a person is not completing “quick, covert changes” then they are being innapropriate. I wonder how the writer would quantify an acceptable quick covert change – is 30 seconds too long to be nude? One minute? ten minutes?
The fact that she has to steel herself to walk through the change room is disturbing in and of itself. She actually has to mentally prepare herself to do a quick walk to the loo amongst nude people? Even IF someone was bending over you’d barely even notice if you’re just walking through the changeroom to the loo, unless you were gawking.
“Nobody wants to side-step a stranger drying themselves a bit too thoroughly ” – I also wonder how the writer quantifies *too* thoroughly, is there a textbook I can pick up which shows the exact method and time one must dry themselves with and in in order to not be deemed to be acting innapropriately?
For me, I barely notice what anyone is doing because I am focusing on what I am doing and not stickybeaking around like a rubbernecker.
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I think Cassie’s point is not the nudity itself – its the excessive nudity. The people she’s talking about aren’t getting changed – they’re displaying themselves like peacocks and to some of us – myself included – it’s just over the top.
Seriously – you have asked how long it takes to get changed? It takes a minute or two – any longer and you’ve either got arthritis or are a show-off.
I see these gym people poncing around – it’s like ‘look at meeeee – I’ve just done my 10th spin class this week and here are the results’. Ewwww. We don’t care. Just get dressed and get out.
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I hope in the time it took to compose that rant you put some pants on.
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I totally agree with you. Change rooms are a place where nudity is to be expected and it’s her issue if she finds the naked female form confronting.
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Kathy W, really? “look at meeeee – I’ve just done my 10th spin class this week and here are the results” – firstly, is this such a bad attitude to have? You’re trying to shame someone for being proud of the hard work they have achieved. I highly doubt these girls are shoving it in your face, sounds more to me that you feel intimidated by people with a better body than you, or perhaps they make you feel self conscious because you haven’t reached the same level of body confidence as them?
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@ High School
Your post is the same as your name – so ‘high school’ – saying I have a problem because my body is lesser than. Mean girl much?
Look, if you’re that proud of your body – show it off at the beach. That’s what bikinis are for.
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Though I’m happy to admit to walking from shower to locker nakedish, I draw the line at a sight of a woman shaving her bits in an open shower at beach toilet block, while my two preschool kids looked on waiting for the loo, the sight of her dragging skin this way and that to get the shaven haven sorted was really something that should be done in privacy.
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How can other people’s state of un/dress affect you? Before reading this I always felt that changerooms were spaces where women’s bodies weren’t judged or sexualised, but rather accepted as part of the scenery. Not so apparently!
Also, this odd-sounding paragraph sounds like Cassie is ashamed of her body:
“’I’m not saying women should be ashamed of their bodies. In fact, I’m the first to admit to feeling stabbing pains of jealousy when confronted by a toned, cellulite-free butt attached to long legs.”
I find this post more disappointing than anything.
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Why is it ridiculous? Can’t Cassie have an opinion?
It’s the prolonged nudity that’s offensive – not the bodies per se. Why parade around and IRON naked? What on earth is the purpose of that other than to….parade around and be an exhibitionist?
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I personally find the idea of ironing in a gym changing room to be equally as weird as doing it naked.
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“Parade around” Uh, you mean walking around? Nice way to project your own judgements on women going about their everyday business. Unless there’s floats and clowns and balloons involved, I doubt anyone is parading.
They may be ironing naked because you can’t wear clothes and iron at the same time.
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They’re ironing their underwear at the gym?
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Could be. I iron my shapewear! But I have the feeling that Cassie would be equally offended by seeing a g-string clad bum and the labia that peeps out from one. Again, ironing is more of a standing thing than this parading and spread-eagling that keeps being mentioned.
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“Unless there’s floats and clowns and balloons involved, I doubt anyone is parading.” LOVE THIS!
You’ve hit the nail on the head there.
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Oh jeez – but you can wear underwear can’t you? Sheesh!
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I agree. Get dressed/undressed reasonably efficiently – no need to stand around for prolonged periods starkers. Bad manners. I reckon that, as in most situations, discretion and respect for others is best.
Bathhouses etc a different matter of course because nudity assumed.
Although when I stripped off completely in a traditional bathhouse on holiday in Istanbul last year I was MORTIFIED to find myself the only woman – among all those tourists and locals – naked. Still shudder.
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Are you trying to say that nudity is not assumed IN A CHANGEROOM?
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I think getting nude may show a certain level of discourtesy to other people you may run into. I mean, there’s a reason willful/indecent exposure is an offence in most states (could be all, it is in Qld but I’m not going to bother looking up other states). In our society, it just isn’t the norm to put your genitals on display and it can make a lot of people uncomfortable.
So I don’t think it’s particularly nice to stroll about in the nude, knowing that it may make some people uncomfortable, when there is a perfectly reasonable alternative available (i.e. being clothed, at least minimally) which would not offend anyone.
For the record, I’m not coming at this from a “You should put on your clothes for me” perspective; I’m saying that if I were in that situation, I would put clothes on so as to not make others uncomfortable. I just feel like that’s the courteous thing to do.
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Can’t edit, but to clarify I’m not saying people in change rooms are committing an offence. I’m making reference to a societal norm against the display of one’s genitals to strangers, the existence of which is supported by a correlating summary offence.
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I understand what you are saying, but the offense comes more from the “inappropriate” showing of one’s genitals. My doctor sees my genitals, because that is considered by our society as an appropriate circumstance and setting. My waxer also sees my genitals. As does my fiance.
Personally I believe a change room is one of those settings and circumstances in which genital display is appropriate. Obviously walking up to someone in the changeroom, spreading your labia and saying “hey cop an eyeful of this!” is not appropriate, but basic genital display whilst changing is surely not inappropriate (in my eyes) given the setting and circumstance.
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Society on the whole is pretty critical of women’s bodies. It seems pretty much an extension of this judgement to stand up and complain about women not being “modest” enough in gym changing rooms because naked women offend you. If you’re not comfortable changing in front of other women in an area set aside for that exact purpose and designed be to safe enough for other women to feel comfortable to do so, then change in a cubicle. Its unnecessary and really I think, unhelpful, to criticise other women for have the guts to change in front of others despite society telling us that we’re too fat, too thin, too wrinkly, too wobbly etc.
Just a thought: do you have a problem with women breast feeding in public or do you feel that women who do so are not being modest enough or that they should hide away in toilet cubicles etc? It may seem a dissimilar concept but in fact you could take all your arguments about not being covered up in change rooms and apply it to breast feeding mothers (eg. Why can’t they just use a towel to cover themselves? It’s not just nudity, these new mothers are BRAZEN about getting their breasts out!)
I know this article is meant to be light hearted, but I am a bit disappointed to see it on mamamia, as I’ve always thought this website to be bit more women positive than that.
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I got the impression that this article wasn’t about getting changed, but about simply standing around totally nude for a period longer than is necessary to just get changed, e.g. while completing other tasks such as packing bags, doing hair etc. I could be wrong though.
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That’s what I thought too. It’s not nudity as such but prolonged nudity with moisturizer application and bending over involvement!!!
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I’m interested to know how you manage to moisturise while wearing clothes. Sounds awkward.
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You’re funny.
If you’d read the comments you’d find many women have commented on the drawn out moisturising rituals that some women undertook.
I’m not saying that women should hide under their towels as though they’re on a beach. I just think the prolonged nudity is a bit OTT. It’s not your own bathroom.
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Fine if you don’t like prolonged nudity but it’s your problem, not theirs
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It’s not my problem because I’m not Cassie, nor do I go to a gym where women walk around starkers.
I love how people keep saying “that’s your problem, not theirs”. What’s the point of even saying that? What if the actual majority of gym & swimming pool members actually minded about prolonged nudity? Would that make any difference or do the nuddy brigade trump everyone else?
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This whole ‘it’s your problem not theirs’ argument is getting old. You cant just run with that in all situations. A changeroom is a public place. You might eat with your hands, make loud slurping noises and lick the plate while having dinner at home. But you don’t behave like that at a restaurant. Sure, eating is ‘natural’ just like the human body. But you have manners and courtesy when in public. And in that case I’m thinking it would not be the problem of the people who get offended, but yours. Similarly, you might go to the toilet at home with the door open (very common at my house) but you don’t do it at a public toilet block. Once again, going to the toilet is ‘natural’, but you curb your behavior in public, largely for the sake of others.
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Cassie I SO agree. People poncing around naked – why don’t they just hold up a sign: ‘I am a show off!”
And all those who say ‘it’s European’ – well woop de doo. So what. Last time I checked we’re not in Europe and since when has European nakedness been aspirational?
Cassie I would be firmly behind that locked cubicle door. Prude and proud of it!
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I love nudity in change rooms. As a straight woman I don’t see a lot of girly body & it’s nice to see the variety & I hope that the confidence of others will rub off on me – after a long boring history of self loathing on the body front.
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I think that’s a really important (and good) part of communal change rooms. You get to see that everyone has the same bits, we all just have different shaped or coloured bits, and that’s totally normal and fine!
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I agree! There’s a communal feeling that comes from collective nudity. The realisation that, under our clothes we’re essentially all the same has a sort of unifying quality to it.
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Well you haven’t found any rational argument against this unless “I don’t like to see it” counts as an argument in your eyes ? Alright , you don’t like the word “prude” either so let’s say you’re “bothered by nudity”………
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I’m far more concerned about the burning hazard of using appliances whilst naked, particularly straightening hair and doing the ironing! Eek!
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Sorry – but you are a prude in my opinion. There are so many bigger things we can concern ourselves with. How important is it?
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If you’re genuinely worried about the real “big problems” in the world, I suggest The Age website would be more appropriate. Mamamia tends to be more fluffy with a few slightly more serious articles.
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I love that the women who go to your gym feel comfortable with their bodies. I wish more women felt that comfortable. I’m not a cover at all costs gal but nor am I a stand and chat starkers gal either. I am nude when I need to be and dress straight away. But that is just my comfort level. I have no issue with any one else being nude for as long as they want, in fact I think it is awesome!
Yayyyyy nudies!
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I have to get in the pool for my daughter’s swim class and then we both get dressed in a very open space change room. Many ladies are quite ok about standing around in the nude. Me? I get the job done and i get out. However, in a gym you may only think these posts, but for a Miss nearly 3 I am forever saying stop staring, let the lady get dressed in peace. Until the day my daughter said “mummy, her boobies are ENORMOUS just like a BIG mountain”. I assure you this made the woman get her clothes on…..so maybe try this tactic next time your in the gym
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Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
I’ll get out my meat curtains
in the change-room for you.
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I was just pondering this the other day. I do find it a little bizarre that many women at my gym seem to want to stay naked for as long as possible in the changeroom. I don’t mind nuding up when I change/after a shower – but its in the context of: I take off my regular bra, put on my sports one; or I wrap myself in a towel walking from shower to locker, then put on clothes. I dont do clever and extensive hiding of the boobs/bits (can’t be bothered) but neither do I stand around for 20mins straightening my hair totally starkers, as one woman did the other day (if for no other reason, i’d get cold!) Seems kinda exhibitionist to me.
Its nice so many people are comfortable with their bodies, but at the same time, it is a public place and I think its important to be aware that not everyone necessarily wants to see excessive nudieness. Be aware that others may not be as comfy with your bits, and perhaps be a little more discreet, as a mark of politeness.
And to the people who pop zits in the gym mirror – NOT okay!!! (there is no wiggle room on that one peeps. Its gross. Don’t share your pus).
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I agree. I’m quite comfortable with others being nude when changing etc but the prolonged nudity, bending over and so on is not necessary. I do not need to see random ladies genitals or anuses up close and personal. If you want to do your hair or iron, please at least put on your undies and a bra.
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I agree with Cassie. One of my strongest childhood memories is standing in the changeroom at the local pool, waiting for mum to change before and after our swim. My sister and I would get changed at home and would go home still in our bathers, wrapped in towels. Mum was just starting her journey as a single mother, and to this day I believe this whole nuisance (as I saw it at the time) was a big show. I think it’s all about women trying to convince themselves that they’re comfortable in their own skin by trying to convince others. Since then I have always been the one to change in the toilets or awkwardly under a towel, at the very least facing with my front to the wall and back to the ‘audience’. I don’t have the time to be caught up in that. I’m not a prude, and I do not need to parade around starkers to prove I’m not. I also don’t need to find flaws in someone else’s naked body to make me feel better about mine.
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vajayjay??!!?? stupidest word invented and I wish people would stop using it (not to mention that the author wasn’t seeing actual vaginas..she was seeing labias) secondly..if you don’t want to see nudity don’t go IN THERE!! simple..if you can’t cope with a bit a’ skin..find a gym where no one else gets naked.
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How awful, I don’t want to see you naked and so YOU should keep your clothes on. I have three words for you, Stay At Home.
One of the loveliest things about my gym is that women bring their young daughters, and their young daughters get to see women in all their glory – not just perfect and photoshopped bodies in magazines.
More natural female nudity please.
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I commented before about how studying art exposed me to many many people naked and I no longer see it as anything to be embarrassed about. I stand by that.
However, I disagree with the commenters who are indicating there is something wrong with not wanting to see people naked. Yes, it is natural, and no, I have no issue with it as I’ve drawn many of them, but people have differing views… My views are based on my experience. Others are based on theirs.
I suggest changing gyms if your gym has more nudity than you are comfortable with. The gym I was recently going to didn’t seem to have any nudity in the change rooms, everyone went into a bathroom cubicle, and while *I* found that unusual and uncomfortable (cramped) it was the norm and I abided by it.
Find a gym that fits with you. Xx
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I take my 3 year old for a shower after her swimming lesson at the gym each week and I receive unsolicited parenting advice from naked old chicks EVERY WEEK. I nod and smile while my brain screams, ‘for the love of chocolate, get the child dressed and GET OUT!’.
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Vajayjay? Seriously?
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‘It’s girlfriends after a workout, colleagues, mothers and daughters – all laughing and chatting, buck naked, making no attempt to cover themselves up.’
Oh, yes, gosh. That sounds awful. Clearly what this world needs is more shame.
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