Citation

Riggle EDB. J. Lesbian Stud. 2018; 22(4): 482-495.

Affiliation

a Department of Gender and Women's Studies, Department of Political Science , University of Kentucky , Lexington , Kentucky , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10894160.2018.1460565

PMID

29912661

Abstract

Public restrooms in U.S. culture are highly gendered, politicized, problematic spaces. Gender non-conforming lesbians may feel especially at risk for various forms of harassment or policing by other occupants in the "ladies' (rest)room." Using auto-ethnographic lived experiences as observations, this essay explores reactions of other women/female occupants in public restrooms designated for female persons to the presence of a gender non-conforming lesbian (the author). Reactions include no response, fear and flight or fight, screaming/shrieking, and active policing. Differences by location and region, and changes in responses over time, are also explored.

Language: en

Keywords

Autoethnography; LGBT; gender non-conforming; public restrooms; well-being