As a measure of where we are, culturally – and of the levels of pretending currently expected – this rather captures something:
How terribly modern. How fashionably unhinged.
Moments later, the two girls returned, hurriedly, explaining in whispered tones that, “There was a man in the shower with us.” Ms Tyrrell promptly told the girls to get changed in a toilet stall, where privacy of a sort might be maintained.
Tyrrell says the man, who was muscular and had a hairy chest and back, was wearing what appeared to be a pink child-like bikini, which was adorned with princess tiaras, sparkles, and frills.
Naturally enough,
However,
Unhappy about the front desk’s dismissal of her concerns, Ms Tyrrell contacted the pool’s management via email, resulting in some unexpected confusion:
Presumably, on grounds that no-one, but no-one, could possibly object to a big, hairy, very male pervert lurking in a changing room intended for women and girls. So, obviously, it must be something else. Some kind of fashion issue.
Ms Dobler was keen to remind Ms Tyrrell and other unnerved ladies that the pool does provide the option of “single stall washrooms or changerooms for patrons… [who] want to maintain more privacy.” In other words, women and girls who would rather not shower in front of big, hairy perverts can always retreat and surrender territory to the aforementioned big, hairy perverts.
Women and girls, you see, being a lower priority.
It’s the progressive pecking order.
Know your place, ladies.
At which point, Ms Tyrrell, now somewhat incredulous, replied with a not unreasonable question:
This, however, prompted a more chiding response from the pool’s management, with Ms Dobler boasting, “We are proud to have a Diversity in Changerooms Policy in our centres,” and adding that patrons are welcome to use showers and changing facilities “where they feel most safe.” The ironies of this statement apparently passing undetected.
“Everyone’s gender identity and expressions are valid,” Ms Dobler insisted. “Our goal is to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and valued.”
Readers will note that the word everyone is rather heavy with connotations and does not seem to include women and girls who aren’t overly keen on the intimate proximity of big, creepy men. Even if those big, creepy men are wearing sparkly bikinis intended for children.
If the above should be insufficiently surreal, do read the rest over at Reduxx.
Update, via the comments:
Aitch notes Ms Dobler’s gratuitous pronouns and quips,
The ostentatious declaration of pronouns does, I think, communicate more than is perhaps realised. Sort of, I will happily pretend not to see the most glaring realities and obvious contradictions, and therefore cannot be relied upon.
Something along those lines.
Or simply, will lie.
Regarding the seeming obliviousness, the glib piety, of those inviting men into women-only spaces – and the kinds of men to whom such opportunities might appeal – Dicentra adds,
Which brought to mind this recent illustration of the same phenomenon, in which obtuseness blurs into practised dishonesty:
And so we get the pinhead dance. According to which, cross-dressing men have every right to enter women’s changing rooms, and women who object can… er, choose not to use them. Or choose to flee, provided they do it politely. So as not to cause offence.
We must, it seems, be sensitive. Albeit unilaterally.
Again, the progressive pecking order. Adherence to which entails pretending one doesn’t know any number of rather obvious things.
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