no privacy at the gym

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41
What????

42
I do too. So do most Swiss. It's like checking out a new hairstyle, clothes, etc... Interesting to look at but no big deal.

43
My daughters (7 and 5) were frozen with shock when they first saw naked women showering after a swim at a local swimming pool last month (of course they had never seen the naked body of a woman before). My wife had a hard time explaining to them what was all that about as we have taught them never to change in public, or even in front of each other at home.

44
I felt more odd about the women laying topless near the women's changing area at Bachgraben than I felt changing or showering in the presence of other women doing the same.

I DID feel a little odd about showering and changing but as I said, I felt MORE odd about the other... laying about nearly completely unclothed outdoors is not something to which I am accustomed at all.

45
Why would you teach them not to change in front of each other at home?

46
Cultural mores differ from country to country and household to household.

47
True, but the post was made from someone who lists their nationality as being New Zealand....

I wonder what body image young children develop if they can't get changed in front of each other...

48
None at all. But if there isn't, what's the problem with it?

49
... and who might be a member of the Plymouth Brethren, a strict Muslim, or simply part of a family that keeps the borders of modesty closer to the individual than most.

Nothing inherently wrong in that, just as there's nothing inherently wrong in waving one's willy around in the street: It's all about cultural expectations and personal preference.

Who knows? It's not really our place to judge, is it?

50
Who's judging anyone? I stated I wonder what body image they develop, nothing judgemental in that, young DB.

51
Don't be silly, this is an internet forum- we all judge with our personal mores.

Get back on topic: gym, naked, somebody upset can't wash behind a curtain. A bit over the top imho.

I look and am always surprised who doesn't wax... what year are we?

52
Well that's our definition of privacy and modesty. It's got nothing to do with nationality or location. We grew up with the same moral values and are just fine about our body image.

53
Well, there is an element of implied and overt judgment throughout this thread which suggests that not wanting to let one's bits hang out is somehow abnormal, that those who prefer to maintain their modesty are a bit peculiar in some way.

I know that it's a strange notion for many continental Europeans, but I'm surprised to see so many Anglo-Saxon people agree with them, given that our own cultural expectations err towards the side of modesty.

The borders, after all, are completely arbitrary, and subject to all kinds of influences, from the law, to religious instruction, to upbringing, to personal discomfort. What makes changing in front of one's siblings any more or less healthy than preferring to go into another room to dress? What makes changing in an open shower room any more or less healthy than preferring to dress in a private cubicle?

50 years ago, it would be the 'let it all hang out' crowd who'd be subject to the moral criticism. Now, it seems, the tide has turned, and it is those who prefer privacy who are subject to the judgment of others.

I don't suppose there's any chance of respecting the wishes of the individual in all of this, is there?

At least we get a choice in this part of the world...

54
Perhaps there is but not from me, DB, I asked a question and received a reply, which I thanked for.

Back to nakedness in gyms, and to each their own, I say.

55
I agree. Working out in the gym should be something pleasent and relaxing, having to shower with 20 naked men (in my case) does not fit into my picture of a relaxing afternoon. I looked at several (affordable) gyms around where I live but didn't join any of them based on not having private showers. I found out though (but correct me if I am wrong) that Holmes Place (zurich and oberrieden) do have private shower cabins. For me paying their steep fees would be worth it though (if I only had time to go to the gym in the first place....)

56
I've nothing to add for the OP other than grin and bear it. "Hide a stone amongst stones, wood amongst wood".

Blimey. Even in front of each other? Really?

Reminds me of I time I visited some friends in the UK. I went for an evening swim and afterwards headed for the showers, where there were a bunch of youngish lads under the 'in a row' showers trying to warm up after spending too much time in the water, wearing their shorts.

Well, I was there to take a shower, so grabbed my bottle, towel and strided in wearing nothing at all. Who wears clothes in the shower? Ha, did I almost get into a fight. There was panic, the guard was called, a couple of Fathers appeared and I had a humdinger argument about the ridiculousness of textiles -vs- hygiene in a public swimming pool. You'd think I was a paedo rapist.

I'd have second thoughts doing it again in the UK.

Chatting to a Californian friend about this recently, she said in school kids can't be made to take showers after sport, so most don't and the idea of doing so becomes embedded. Then they turn up in Europe and it's paranoia all round.

Yeah, right, windswept barren Hebridean islands versus Bali and it's exotic splendours. Hardwood decking doesn't suit everywhere

57
Other... men... in the changing rooms?

I personally think that's a great shame. I think that can only skew and stunt their confidence and sexuality in later life if you are that strict with what should be one of the most natural thing on earth... your own body. But as has been said nothing to do with us other than you posted it on a public forum and you'll always get opinions as a result.

58
Interesting discussion.

I know for a fact that many teenage girls don't like to undress in front of anyone because they don't feel comfortable with their "new" bodies yet.

59
MacGregor's Daughter, while I'm not shy about exposing my funny bits to all and sundry (er, I mean women), I run home to shower because I don't feel nice showering in a gym. There's nothing like one's own bathtub and shower - total relaxation.

60

This is also happening in the UK now, my niece has just started the secondary school I used to go to and she told me they don't shower now after sports class as it's not allowed. I remember hating showers after sports BUT it was part of the process - it's what you did. I can't believe it's now been banned probably due to more assumptions that every teacher/sports teacher etc... has ulterior motives

Back to the original topic, I am with the OP, I find the communal changing rooms/showers a bit hard to deal with, luckily we joined a gym directly across from where we live, problemo solved