Canteen culture is knocking culture. The point is that it knocks everybody.I’m a fan of the old MOD Effective Writing style myself: introduction, detail, conclusion.
The introduction can highlight that canteen culture is discriminatory. The detail can then provide examples of why and the negative impacts. The conclusion can then highlight possible solutions.
Then the discussions can begin.
Or you can just go wibbly and get ignored.
Personally, as the token civvy (and outsider) in an office full of hairy backsided matelots (and that includes the women) for a few years, I found the best way to getting accepted was to do your job to the best of your ability, own your failures, give as good as you got, and don't hold grudges.
There are also some more positive aspects. It can preserve a cultural norm where that cultural norm is healthy and needs preserving. It's also a neutraliser and a reinforcement of egalitarianism - but, where someone is determined to be 'special' that's going to ruffle feathers.
A certain poster above is not special for being unusual. We have people on this site who have served or are serving of many different genders and sexualities. I've no issue there; a human being is a human being and it's the person not the 'type' which defines the individual.
You'll get acceptance from me if you get on with getting on. I don't need to be constantly reminded of your needs because you're different. Moreover, you won't get acceptance from me if you're determined to constantly be seen as different.
That's as much my right of choice as a person as it is for whomever else to be whatever shade of unicorn they are today. Us straight white males are special too, you know.
But - and this is important - if 'different' means being constantly chippy then expect the invective to get ramped up. Because then you're just being a tiresome little shït and you'll get what you deserve. No, I'm got going to think about your feelings because you're not thinking about mine.