The standard of this philosophical debate is shallow.
Not one contributor has addressed what it means to be a woman in 2025.
Biology is fundamental to a woman’s experience and existence. Not because of genitalia or menstruation or even physical disadvantages but how they are perceived by society. That is gender. How society looks at women. What it is to be a woman is built by society from the day a girl is born. How a woman is viewed and views herself is built minute by minute by society. Luckily, in 2025 most of society is fairly relaxed and doesn’t discriminate and laws have been put in place to prevent discrimination but there is still a fundamental difference between men and women.
In sports, excluding men is based on biology. I doubt anyone can argue against that now. Women’s spaces are based on biology because of how society looks at women and the social norms regarding ablutions and public nakedness.
There is a difference between men’s and women’s exclusive places because there is no cultural issue with men sharing spaces with trans men.
Has anyone of the "let all facilities be unisex" asked women what they think of that? Society's preferences seem to be sacrificed on the altar of making sure every minority view is included.
Some very contorted views on here trying to justify males encroaching on female spaces.

having a female gender. — Michael

So females have to accommodate women in female only spaces? Even if that makes them uncomfortable and fearful?

A better question to ask is; are there any good reasons to object to trans men using men's spaces and trans women using women's spaces? When it comes to something like sports, I think there are. But when it comes to something like toilets? I've already addressed the fact that if safety is our main concern then it's better to let trans men use the men's bathroom and trans women using the women's bathroom. — Michael

So you don’t think there any good reasons to restrict access to female facilities to females only.
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Instead of going round in a loop of disagreement I think it would be useful to get your understanding of why you think society and (most) women object to trans women in female spaces. Also, what constitutes being a woman?
Is it incumbent on everyone else to fall into line with someone’s view of who they are?

It is not really purely male or purely female either, is it? So we have to make room for these people in our society, our laws and our thinking? — prothero

It is and we don’t.

If you are in charge of deciding who is allowed to use which bathroom, then would you require that trans men who have had genital surgery and now have an artificial penis use the men’s bathroom or the women’s bathroom?

Have a women's bathroom and an open bathroom. Have women's sport and open sport.

All inclusive. Sorted.

In proposing unisex bathrooms you are taking away the trans-gender person's reasons for having surgery in the first place - to affirm their gender. — Harry Hindu

It's just another dispiriting pious measure nailed to the cross of trans inclusion.

I doubt any woman would be happy with having to go to the loo after a couple of blokes on a morning after the night before. Lasses have a sanctuary on a night out to have a laugh with their mates and maybe escape from people they prefer not to interact with. It's just another part of culture sacrificed to include people who want the world to bend to their whim.

So either you disagree with the facts or you don’t actually care about people’s safety at all. Perhaps you’re just using that as a dog whistle to push an anti-trans agenda. — Michael

You don't appear to be concerned about women's fears. Perhaps you’re just using that as a dog whistle to push an misogynistic agenda.

I’m simply pointing out the fact that it is safer for everyone if trans people are allowed to use their preferred bathroom. — Michael

So women are uncomfortable with men in their bathrooms and have to put up with it?

I have no idea what you mean here. — Michael

I really don't think you do.

The studies show that this is the safer option for everyone. — Michael

So women should stand aside as usual.

The evidence shows otherwise. — Michael

One study by a Gender studies lecturer is not the 10 Commandments.

As I said even if true it doesn't change the narrative.

Are you saying that (a) and/or (b) are false? Or are you saying that you don’t care that they’re true? — Michael

I'm saying (a) is false but even if it wasn't men should not be allowed in women's exclusive spaces.

Even if (b) is true, men should not be allowed in women's exclusive spaces.

Why should women have to compromise for men?

Are you saying women are stupid to feel that they should exclude men from their exclusive places?

I don’t play it down. — Michael

cisgender women are not put at risk by trans-inclusive bathroom policies. — Michael

Sounds like you are.

I’m not playing down women’s experiences. I’m simply explaining that “women’s experiences” is not reducible to “the experience of humans with an XX karyotype, ovaries, and a vagina.”

Women as a gender is distinct from women as a sex, even if they almost always correspond. The fact that they almost always correspond has caused you to mistakenly conflate the two. — Michael

No matter how you repeat the same thing over and over doesn't alter the fact that you wish to allow males into female spaces. playing down the concerns females have at males gaining access to to places where females feel vulnerable and uncomfortable in the presence of males.

Luckily, society seems to have caught up and is clamping down.

And yet the poll you linked to says that 51% of men oppose trans men using the men's toilets (with only 33% in support). So evidently most men do care. — Michael

That surprises me.

Yes, but there's more to biology, and in particular neurology, than just sex chromosomes and genitals. — Michael

Of course, I've never said otherwise.

And transgender women growing up will not have the same experiences as cisgender men, and transgender men growing up will not have the same experiences as cisgender women. It's not all about sex chromosomes and genitals. I don't know why you can't accept this. — Michael

I can accept it. people can be whoever they wish.

We are conscious organisms with complex psychologies and personal identities, with gender identity "develop[ing] surprisingly rapidly in the early childhood years, and in the majority of instances appears to become at least partially irreversible by the age of 3 or 4." — Michael

I agree with this too. people can identify how they wish. They are still male and female and males and females are seen different by society and this needs recognising in certain spaces.
You are denying this difference and wish to play down the woman's experience in modern society. That's what a man does, many of them would argue.

And these societal differences have nothing to do with biology. Gender is distinct from sex. — Michael

The person's biology has a huge influence on the development someone. Society treats the sexes different and certain aspects of society are governed by a person's sex. There are reasons why it is a societal taboo for men to hit women.
Men growing up will not have the same experiences women. these forge the person you become. The influences are changing on a daily basis but until there has been some massive social engineering the status quo will (and should) remain.

But speaking as a man, I don't care what other men think. Trans men ought be allowed to use the men's bathroom. — Michael

I doubt many men would care.

These societal differences are distinct from any biological differences, so clearly gender is distinct from sex. And people can identify as belonging to the gender that is not typical for their biological sex. — Michael

No it isn't. The gender is reflection of the societal differences between the sexes. The word was hijacked by the muddle headed.

When including transwomen who have had gender-affirming surgery, 45% of women say that transwomen ought be allowed to use the women's bathroom compared to 34% who say they shouldn't (with 21% saying they don't know). 45 is greater than 34. — Michael

read the link

Disagree with me on what? — Michael

Allowing men into women's bathrooms.

https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/51545-where-does-the-british-public-stand-on-transgender-rights-in-202425

Many woman won't have a problem with it. like most things in society it isn't binary.

Many women won't have an issue walking through a park late at night.

Looks like the majority of women disagree with you. Do you dismiss that?

So you deny the reality that gender is distinct from sex? — Michael

I don't believe you (and similar advocates) use the concept of gender correctly. Gender is the societal differences between the sexes. If everyone else in the world thought it was good thing and agreed I would still see a man in dress. once all of the issues women face are ironed out and females don't feel threatened or vulnerable then maybe men would have access to exclusive places.

An example would be a night club that attracts the trans/queer community. If women in those places are comfortable then there would be no issue. Until then men need excluding. These are private places and probably exclude most of the "bloke" element anyway.
Sport is a different matter but there would be nothing wrong in setting up other organised leagues where women accept the risks and disadvantages of playing with men.

I am questioning the claim that certain bathrooms ought be exclusive to biological women. — Michael

Dismissing their concerns and shared experience.

I'm not dismissing it. — Michael

You want males to enter their exclusive places. Is that not dismissing it?

Again with the equivocation. Nobody is claiming that a biological man can become a biological woman or that a biological woman can become a biological man. What is claimed is that biological men can have a female gender identity and that biological women can have a male gender identity. — Michael

I think that is a meaningless concept and dismisses what it is to be female.

I'm not dismissing it. But you certainly are dismissing transgender experience. — Michael

You are 100% dismissing women and their experience.

You have dismissed the concerns of females in spaces where they are may feel awkward and vulnerable. The toilet is one of those places.

I reject the notion that man can become a woman. I agree with you there.

I’m not conflating gender with biology. I am simply pointing out that if we separate bathrooms according on one’s sex organs, as you say we should, then it makes sense to allow those with an artificial penis to use the same bathroom as those with a natural penis and to allow those with an artificial vagina to use the same bathroom as those with a natural vagina. — Michael

Separate bathrooms is not just about sex organs and the place of females in society is not based just on sex organs.

I find the whole dismissive attitude to female experience in society quite sad. Luckily females in modern western liberal countries have it fairly good but there are still threats to females and unique challenges for females that means some areas of society have to be barred from males.

As for faith, I choose to believe in the God of perfection. The God who is not only perfectly good but also perfectly powerful, which means that He cannot use His power for evil. — GregW

He seems nice

The frame of reference for true beauty and true goodness is perfection — GregW

What for you is perfection?

I agree; it seemed natural and organic. But if you think about it, there is not much natural or organic about it. Such things do not occur in nature, and are not universal in human societies either. — unenlightened

We are social animals and take millions of unconscious cues every day. No one learns the etiquette of buying rounds at a bar but everyone in UK knows it.

Let me tell you why I believe that beauty is not relative to the beholder. I believe that it is our own measure of beauty that is relative to the beholder. Beauty, like truth, justice, piety, and the other virtues are a part of good; andtruth absolute, true beauty, true virtue, and true love are a part of goodness absolute; and goodness absolute is a part of God. — GregW

Expand on that, please. What is the frame of reference for true beauty etc?

Is it your faith in God? If so, I'll stick with my original statement.

Hermaphrodism and gender dysphoria are rare conditions. These are obviously not the target of the discussion. — Tzeentch

Often used to justify everything else.

, but as far as I'm concerned there's only one sane answer to it isn't particularly hard to see. — Tzeentch

That sane answer eludes quite a few.

This is probably the elephant in the room that is rarely talked about, because it's obviously an unfortunate thing to have to tell someone that they are unable to pass for the opposite sex, but it's the reality for many. — Tzeentch

It isn’t unfortunate. It is fact.

Let them use the women’s changing room. They shouldn’t be required to use the men’s changing room. — Michael

Why should women have to give up their hard fought for rights to men?

And I’m sure trans women who have surgically transitioned feel the same. — Michael

That is a consequence of a choice they made. I'm not sure what the authorities could do to accommodate them.

This is a genuine social dilemma I have faced with my daughter — unenlightened

It just came naturally. Just like being naked in front of your child stopped after a time. I think my child chose the time. It seemed organic

Incidentally, speaking of changing rooms - what does one do if a man wants to take his young daughter, or a woman her young son, to the swimming bath? — unenlightened

In my local pool they have recently installed more cubicles for changing. The showers are still open. I took my daughter in with me until she was old enough to change on her own. Still remember many times when I'd have to send in a female attendant to tell to stop messing about and get a move on.

So why is that? — Michael

Because women cannot compete with men in sports and because many women feel threatened and uncomfortable when men are are around when they are undressing, changing sanitary products etc.

The pertinent question is: should bathrooms, sports teams, prisons, etc. be divided by biological sex, by gender identity, by something else, or by nothing at all? — Michael

Which we disagree on.

One can psychologically identify as belonging to the social and cultural group that is usually occupied by the opposite biological sex — Michael

I agree.

And words like “man” and “woman” can refer either to a person of a particular biological sex or to a person who belongs to a particular social and cultural group. Usually these are congruent, but sometimes they’re not. — Michael

I disagree.