I paid little attention to the Caitlyn Jenner-inspired debate over whether trans women are “real” women; it seemed a little tangential. Until, that is, it ambushed me while I was semi-naked in a change room.

Let me explain. Swimming pool change rooms, for those of you who don’t frequent them, are among the few places women — old and young, slim and rotund — feel safe completely disrobing in front of strangers.

media_camera Caitlyn Jenner. (Pic: Getty)

So that’s what I was doing one Sunday lunch time, after laps. I was alone, and about to rip off my togs and jump in the shower, when a very masculine-looking person in tight, lurid-orange men’s swim trunks walked in.

I hid in the shower cubicle. When the coast was clear, I ducked out to check that I wasn’t actually in the men’s change rooms before feebly calling out, “um, do you know this is the women’s change room?” There was no answer.

After dressing inside the shower cubicle, I told front desk reception there had been a man in the change room.

“Oh, that’s Charlie*,” said the receptionist. “She’s half-half.”

I didn’t interrogate her further, although spent the rest of the afternoon puzzled. What does half-half mean? Which half is which?

I only had a brief look, but this was either the world’s most convincing transformation from a woman to a man, or it was a man who identified as a woman but preferred to do his exercise in men’s togs.

Either way, should she have been in the women’s change room?

Women disrobe in women’s change rooms assuming that the only people that will see their wobbly bits are women and children (even the latter annoys some change room users, although that is a debate for another time).

I didn’t like being surprised there by someone who was to all appearances a man, even if, on later enquiry, this person was nominally “half-half”. And I didn’t like the assumption from centre management that I would be okay with that.

That night, I found myself exploring that aforementioned debate over whether trans women are real women.

On one side, there’s Germaine Greer arguing that “just because you lop off your d**k and then wear a dress doesn’t make you a *** woman”. Biologist Richard Dawkins also weighed in, outraging some by pointing out that, technically at least, what makes one a “real” woman is an XY chromosome combination.

Those arguing the opposite say Greer and Dawkins are being too rigid about the whole gender thing.

Paris Lees, a journalist and activist, tweeted in response to Dawkins’ comments: “Nobody should feel the need to have a degree in gender theory OR genetics in order to justify their simple right to exist/express themselves”.

This whole debate seems to hang on the definition of “real”.

If real means chromosomally, it seems obvious that, trans women are not “real” women. If it’s defined by genitalia, then that’s a bit fuzzier, given all the permutations on that front.

If it is defined by how one feels inside, then yes, I guess, they are. And if it is defined by the type of swim suit one wears into an inner west Sydney swimming pool change room, then apparently it’s a grey area.

I am sympathetic to those who feel like they were born the wrong gender. They should express themselves as they wish. It’s no one else’s business — as long as their right to claim their preferred gender doesn’t trump my right to privacy.

And, for this change room frequenting woman, citing “half and half” suggests a lack of respect for the rights and privacy of others. The privilege to use a change room carries certain obligations, and showing some consideration for the feelings of fellow patrons is one of them.

It’s not so much an issue of transsexuality as it is an issue of common courtesy.

Perhaps with transgender rights should come responsibilities — in this case, to at least wear women’s swimwear when in the women’s change room.

*Name changed