Home > Experts > Question Search health advice Find an answer Question Posted by: Queen | 2012/05/30 Q.Just wondering... Ladies, I''m just curious, and I hope no one takes offence.At the gym most white ladies 95% don''t like getting naked in the change rooms (public eye). They change their clothes inside the toilets. I''m sure its really not comfortable due to confined spaces plus the toilet seat! If they have to take a shower, they take their whole clothes and hang them on the shower door. After showering they get dressed inside the shower! This I''m positive is highly uncomfortable too, the risk of slipping and falling is too highSo ladies, I''m wondering, is it a cultural thing to hide your bodies or are there any other reasons? 8 Pin It user comments Posted by: Nandi''s mum | 2012/05/31 You ladies made me laugh hey! LOLQueen, I have also noticed that most white ladies do that. I used to go to South Gate gym (years back) and thats a predominately black gym and none of those ladies there hide. One is as free as if they are at thier own houses.Then I started going to a smaller gym in mulbarton and oh no, I swear, like you say, all the white ladies there undress in the toilet and they dont even shower there, they leave the gym in their sweaty smelly gym wear! I also learned to hide because they would be staring at me when I undress. Reply to Nandi''s mum Posted by: Pam | 2012/05/30 off thh topic: at least we worry and have the decency to even hide our privates, hubby''s younger brother vowed to never change nor go into the man''s changerooms coz apparently everything in there is left dangling for anyones and everyones eyes, whether you''re a fat guy with a huge tummy hanging over your willy or Mr muscleman, everyone''s is just dangling, they even hold conversation facing each other , naked. lol i would die seeing so many all at one time.i havent noticed much cos i always avoid going into the ladies'' changerooms, but the few times ive been there ive seen enough to blind me or last me a lifetime, why spread your legs when you''re applying lotion on you rinner thighs like you''re at home? yes we all the same looking privates but good grief i dont want to see yours.some women just have the guts. Reply to Pam Posted by: mom of 3 | 2012/05/30 I am a black woman almost 40 years old. My body is not bad at all according to me but still I will not change in full view of everyone. I get traumatised seeing butt naked people so many at once!!!. I once took kids to the gym changerooms and they vowed never to go in there again cause its way too much " information" stuff displayed. Ok I grew up in what one would call semi priviledged circumstances and went to school with all races so maybe thats why I am self conscious, from way back there. I dont know but to this day I either change at my house or as quickly as possibly and only take off towel when I absolutely have to. so yeh food for thought. I guess we must just accept one another with our minor differences they are not important anyway I guess Reply to mom of 3 Posted by: Maria | 2012/05/30 Queen I think that your attitude to your body is much healthier, but I won''t get naked in public either! LOL @ R - it might be true about men but I''m pretty sure my husband won''t like it. Reply to Maria Posted by: Queen | 2012/05/30 He he he ladies!! Thanks for clarity. Even though I must say, from a black woman''s point of view it sounds a bit strange. Because we even hold conversations butt naked with our tummies hanging & stretch marks every where lol. We know our bodies are not perfect but what can we do. Maybe that''s why I didn''t think body image was the reason why most white ladies didn''t change in public. After all most of them are slimmer than most of us.R-That''s hilarious! Turning your private parts towards the locker & the panic attacks!!! You have just described what most white women do at the gym! They walk fast clutching their towel for dear life. Its even difficult to greet that person because you see the uneasiness on their faces Reply to Queen Posted by: R | 2012/05/30 No offence taken. White woman here, and when I use to go to the gym I HATED changing in the public eye. Being naked in public is like a big nightmare. I use to change as quickly as possible, and always tried to have my private parts turned to the lockers. Swear I''m getting a panic attack just thinking about it. This is going to sound horrible, but I swear it would be easier to change in front of men because they would not look at you and see every single fault. Reply to R Posted by: jo | 2012/05/30 I know when i went to gym i would also hide away when getting dressed, self conscious i guess. Reply to jo Posted by: Nini | 2012/05/30 You are absolutely right Queen. In my personal opinion, white women are a lot more shy of their own bodies. I also think it has something to do with our Western culture that we have grown up with - we have been exposed to so much of what we think is the perfect body, and not to mention, women are very judgemental of each other. I''m pretty sure that it''s like this accross all cultures, but in my own personal experience and opinion, white women are easier targets for being judged in that sense... Okay I''m not sure if I am making sense or not? I know I am shy to undress in public - not because I want privacy, but simply because I am scared of women judging me and seeing my stretch marks. You see I like to dress up, wear make up, nice hair etc... But underneath all that I also have stretchmarks, cellulite, flabby tummy etc... And I have seen women''s faces before when they see me with clothes on, and when they see me without clothes on, and it''s like totally not what they thought I''d look like.... I most definately dont have a self image problem, but I do avoid judgement as far as possible... LOL...I think we are a lot more shy about our bodies than black women are. Maybe I am only speaking for myself here... Reply to Nini Want to comment? Your name (optional) Your comment To prevent spam please solve this simple math problem: × Thanks for commenting! Your comment will appear on the site shortly. × Thanks for commenting! Your comment will appear on the site shortly. 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