My thoughts is that it’s a simple situation really. If they’re harassing or assaulting people, the women will call the cops or something, simple situation and get the guy arrested. If he’s not doing anything, it’s nothing harmful. Apparently that’s not a solid enough answer. What should I have said?
What’s to stop him just walking in anyway?
Don’t live in the US, but in Sweden almost all WCs are gender neutral.
But the scenario is a cis gender male, walking in to a bathroom where he doesn’t belong. And you ask what is stopping him, well in the world where someone is asking you what gender you are, to allow you to go the bathroom; I guess that will be stopping you.
It’s a made up scenario
Culture and common understanding. The sense of shame he’d get from everyone around saying, why are you in the wrong toilet? And the potential for escalation if he doesn’t turn back and leave.
Changing culture means new adaptation to what’s comfortable, what feels safe, and how you can interact with a stranger without getting the police involved. We have to adapt: but that change is a legitimate difficulty/concern for women who don’t feel safe doing their ‘toilet’ with men around.