r/ftm•
shirshine

Is it exploitative to use women's restrooms?

I'm at a weird time in my life where I'm "out", but still pre-everything and don't pass very well. Luckily my school gave me access to a single stall bathroom, but the gendered bathrooms are still a problem in public places like restaurants or stores. I would like to use the men's room, but every time I go i end up chickening out and going into the women's room. I feel terrible when I'm in there, like I'm invading a "safe space", but I have social anxiety and I don't have any experience with male bathrooms, so I'm terrified to go there. I feel like I don't pass either way- in the women's restroom I'm afraid everyone knows I'm a guy, in the men's I'm afraid people will be able to tell I'm female bodied. I know this is mainly a confidence issue and will get better with more experience (and hormones, eventually), but for now it's just not an option. I guess my main question is: is it morally wrong to use the women's restrooms?

I'd also appreciate any tips about going into the men's room, like ettiquette and whatnot. My biggest thing right now is feeling like people will "know" if I go into a stall to pee. I know some cis men pee sitting down, but IDK.

Posted Aug 12, 2015, 4:52 PM UTC

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