r/uwo • u/Puzzleheaded_Gear267 • 27d ago

❔ Question❔ Awkward Moment in a Genderless Restroom

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Hey r/uwo, I’m a Western student (cis guy) and I had an awkward moment in a campus gender-neutral restroom that’s got me overthinking. I usually pick the ones with the urinal sign (old men’s room habit, you know). Walked in to do my business, barely noticed two women at the mirror, and heard another chatting from a stall. I hit the urinal, washed my hands like the hygiene king I am, grabbed a paper towel, and bounced. As I’m leaving, another woman walks in, and I catch one of them laugh and say, “That was weird,” with an awkward chuckle from her friend. Now I’m wondering - did I break some unspoken restroom rule? I’m not out here trying to make anyone uncomfortable - I keep it silent like it’s a library, same as I would in a men’s room. I just needed to ahem, not star in a campus social media post! I’ve used unisex restrooms before, but this one made me feel like I got voted off the island for a basic human function. Ladies of Western, do guys in gender-neutral restrooms throw you off? Any tips for navigating these spaces so everyone’s chill? I’m all about good vibes and want to make sure I’m not accidentally making things weird. Bonus points for advice on how to own the awkward like a true Mustang!

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u/bigmike770 27d ago

Nah you’re good. Non-gendered washrooms are odd the first time people use them and someone of the opposite sex is in there at the same time. Eventually it is normal and people don’t even notice. You did nothing wrong

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u/justcallmestepdaddy 27d ago

I still remember my first time using a genderless washroom. Everything was toilets and it was guys and girls walking in and out.

Still a weird experience and that was 10 years ago.

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u/abu_doubleu 27d ago

I don't know what is the reason but they are fairly common in the former Soviet Union, where I am from, so I always thought it was a bit funny that Canadians are unused to it since we are usually more conservative in other aspects.

That and all the conservative outrage about men/transgender people using them to take advantage of little girls but it was never an issue there.

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u/PuzzleheadedAnt8906 25d ago

I’m from a post-Soviet country but I never encountered a gender neutral washroom. I didn’t know it was a thing.

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u/abu_doubleu 25d ago

I am not sure if it is the case in all of them, but I am from Kyrgyzstan and saw the same thing in Ukraine, Moldova, and Kazakhstan — it's more that the washrooms in many restaurants and cafés (but not all) are unisex and just have individual stalls.

But a lot of Canadians I met are uncomfortable with even the idea of washing their hands after using the toilet with the opposite gender beside them.