# Area Mom Feels Free to Hang Out in the Men's Locker Room **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 26, 2015, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069 "2015-03-26T22:52:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/21 "2015-03-27T13:38:15Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Underneath our clothes, we are all naked. Shhh. Maybe you could nakedly answer **SlakerInc’s** question directed to you. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/22 "2015-03-27T13:43:52Z")
Undressing then doing a pose down in front of a mirror would have been the way to go. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/23 "2015-03-27T13:54:03Z")
I would’ve gone about my business; changing & getting ready. Don’t forget it’s important to stretch before working out; yanno, turn around, bend over & touch your toes, sit (on a towel), spread your legs & lean forward, those type of things. Oh, & you’re bathing suit is too tight & constrictive for those stretches so you do them in the buff, right? 😉 Little kids should go into the dressing room of the parent they are with. If it was a dad with a daughter in the men’s locker room, I’d be as discreet as possible, wrapping a towel around me for the few seconds of changing or walking to another row of lockers. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/24 "2015-03-27T14:00:30Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > Maybe you could nakedly answer **SlakerInc’s** question directed to you. And no dangling participles like the last time. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/25 "2015-03-27T14:05:25Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > And no dangling participles like the last time. Well that’s what happens when I change. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/26 "2015-03-27T15:16:46Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > And no dangling participles like the last time. What if your participles are prehensile? ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/27 "2015-03-27T15:32:56Z")
Single Moms have to make a lot of constrained choices. I thank goodness that Celtling turned out to be a girl, it made my life a lot easier! Try to be understanding. She just wanted to go swimming. It’s not like she’ll get to do a single lap on her own, or relax in the whirlpool where kids aren’t allowed. She’s just trying to get the kid changed as quickly as possible and get some pool time in. Given the difficult choice, she chose the option where adults get to be as adult as possible in an uncomfortable situation, and the child wouldn’t be exposed to anything he didn’t have in his own pants. There are viable arguments either way, but for goodness sake cut her some slack. Complain to the manager about the need for family changing rooms. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/28 "2015-03-27T15:39:39Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Single Moms have to make a lot of constrained choices. I thank goodness that Celtling turned out to be a girl, it made my life a lot easier! > > Try to be understanding. She just wanted to go swimming. It’s not like she’ll get to do a single lap on her own, or relax in the whirlpool where kids aren’t allowed. She’s just trying to get the kid changed as quickly as possible and get some pool time in. > > Given the difficult choice, she chose the option where adults get to be as adult as possible in an uncomfortable situation, and the child wouldn’t be exposed to anything he didn’t have in his own pants. > > There are viable arguments either way, but for goodness sake cut her some slack. Complain to the manager about the need for family changing rooms. Why is the men’s locker room a better choice than the woman’s? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/29 "2015-03-27T15:58:26Z")
Because the mother gets to look at men and her precious don’t get blinded by va jay jay. Its a win win. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/30 "2015-03-27T15:58:32Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > the child wouldn’t be exposed to anything he didn’t have in his own pants. Reported for insulting the OP.😛 ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/31 "2015-03-27T15:58:43Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Given the difficult choice, she chose the option where adults get to be as adult as possible in an uncomfortable situation, and the child wouldn’t be exposed to anything he didn’t have in his own pants. … Actually no. She choose to “protect” her little boy from being exposed to omigosh female nekkidness with no regard to other adults. Yes of course\*\* Slacker\*\* could have just said “Excuse me, I am going to change now so if you don’t mind can you please get your child’s pants on and finish up outside? Thank you.” But there is no question that the mother was imposing and would be imposing less by bringing the child into her side of the lockers which is the more standard approach in that circumstance for either gender parent. Usually the adult has to change too. Actually I opened this thread thinking that this going to a trans issue. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/32 "2015-03-27T15:59:57Z")
Change the kid on the pool deck. If there is a concern about his being naked on the pool deck, use a changing sack. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/33 "2015-03-27T16:01:23Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Why is the men’s locker room a better choice than the woman’s? Because . . . penis? ---
**Author:** ![wedgehed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@wedgehed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgehed)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/34 "2015-03-27T16:25:08Z")
Just amble up to them, all friendly-like, and ask… “Joey, have you ever seen a grown man naked?” ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/35 "2015-03-27T17:10:19Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > …the child wouldn’t be exposed to anything he didn’t have in his own pants… And why is this a benefit to anyone? Children should know what humans look like. At least, surely adults should know what humans look like. And when better to learn than when you are young and learning everything and there isn’t any sexual tension or threat involved in any plausible situation? Of course the child should have gone into the women’s room with the mom. Bringing an adult woman into the men’s room to spare her innocent baby from learning what humans look like was at best misguided, and quite rude to everyone else who wanted to change. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/36 "2015-03-27T17:15:56Z")
Well, this is a potential sex crime. Just as men hanging around in the women’s changing room would get a gazillion 911 calls, her actions are just as illegal, just as wrong, and should be treated the same. But I strongly doubt she would see that. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/37 "2015-03-27T17:21:05Z")
Lady is just lucky nobody in the gym wanted to show off their “110 percent”. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/38 "2015-03-27T17:21:35Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > Maybe you could nakedly answer **SlakerInc’s** question directed to you. Uhhh, I whip it out and ask Area Mom if she wuld like to pet my snake? ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/39 "2015-03-27T17:26:02Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I’m 100% on the OP’s side here. > > That said, I do remember a poster here starting a thread about how a father brought his young daughter in the men’s locker room. The poster wasn’t pitting the dad or anything but he did share how uncomfortable he felt changing in front of the little girl. > > Which I also sympathize with. > > Given these two choices I think the best choice is for the kid to go into whatever gender the parent is. Right. Yeah, I’ve seen that done a few times (although I think it’s more common in the women’s room just because it’s less common for a dad to be the only one at the pool with a daughter), and while it’s a little awkward it’s more understandable and I’m willing to work around it. Can you link me to that other thread? I’d be curious to see what people had to say about that scenario. BTW, **TruCelt** , she wasn’t swimming: she was coming back from the pool, fully dressed. It was the time when kids’ swimming lessons were just ending, so presumably she was sitting on the sidelines while Junior had his lesson. > [@wedgehed](#): > > Just amble up to them, all friendly-like, and ask… > > “Joey, have you ever seen a grown man naked?” This made me literally LOL. > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I assume the OP would have loved to report to the front desk but he was already late as it was. True, and there’s another problem. The place is staffed (in the winter months, when only the indoor lap pool is open) by just two lifeguards. One mans the desk, the other the lifeguard stand in the pool. Every half hour, they swap positions. The day this happened, one of them was male and one female; the only way to get from one place to the other is through the locker rooms. So when that lifeguard I mentioned came through, he was coming from the pool to the desk, meaning the woman who had been at the desk when I came in had already gone through the women’s locker room to relieve him. To go complain at the desk would have been awkward, because it would have been like “um, you know that woman you clearly saw in the locker room when you came through? You should have told her to leave, what’s wrong with you? Go do it now!” I just hate to be that guy, especially in a place I go regularly. (I do feel he should have done it without having to be asked.) And the women lifeguards never come into the men’s locker room anyway. So when this first started and she was still at the desk, asking her to intervene would be even more problematic. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069/40 "2015-03-27T18:07:56Z")
Principle, schminciple. Men are just way more laid back about this stuff. I’d hate for the boy to be brought into the women’s changing room, have the police called and the boy spends the rest of his life a registered sex offender. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-mom-feels-free-to-hang-out-in-the-mens-locker-room/716069.md?page=3)