Segregated Bathrooms: A Problem?

[Neu Leonstein]

What's the difference between men standing besides you and women standing beside you?

This is not necessarily something that can be explained in rational terms. It shouldn't make a difference whether a guy stands next to you or not either. But for some people, sometimes it does and they can't go. Purely irrational, something going on in the subconscious. I could imagine that the presence of a woman next to you could have a more pronounced effect still. I have no evidence for it, I've never tried. But it's probably necessary to accept that it is possible without allowing for a very good explanation!

[Gim]

What's the difference between men standing besides you and women standing beside you?

This is not necessarily something that can be explained in rational terms. It shouldn't make a difference whether a guy stands next to you or not either. But for some people, sometimes it does and they can't go. Purely irrational, something going on in the subconscious. I could imagine that the presence of a woman next to you could have a more pronounced effect still. I have no evidence for it, I've never tried. But it's probably necessary to accept that it is possible without allowing for a very good explanation!

Personally, I wouldn't mind, thus I wouldn't mind having unisex bathrooms.

[Aethrys]

You sort of have a leg to stand on with the unisex bathroom thing, I suppose. But regarding scrapping urinals you're out of your mind. Reduce efficiency just so people don't get offended? Yeah, no. Urinals designed with women in mind have been attempted, they just never catch on because women dislike them and prefer nice long 10-15 minute bathroom breaks.

In the event that this proposal ever saw the light a few decades down the line, urinals should be included, so as to mitigate the absurdly long wait times that will almost inevitably result. If females are actually that broken up over guys getting to piss at a urinal to get in and out quickly, they can always get one of those wearable funnel things.

What's the difference between men standing besides you and women standing beside you?

This is not necessarily something that can be explained in rational terms. It shouldn't make a difference whether a guy stands next to you or not either. But for some people, sometimes it does and they can't go. Purely irrational, something going on in the subconscious. I could imagine that the presence of a woman next to you could have a more pronounced effect still. I have no evidence for it, I've never tried. But it's probably necessary to accept that it is possible without allowing for a very good explanation!

I can confirm that I experience this. Primarily when having to give a sample for a drug test, I find I simply cannot go knowing someone's standing right there watching, so I wind up having to drink water like it's going out of style until I absolutely have to go. Hell, sometimes it's not even during tests, I'll just be using the bathroom all set to go when suddenly someone walks in and grabs the urinal next to me. Suddenly the works seem to be jammed until they're done and gone.

Can't even imagine how horribly awkward similar scenarios would be with women involved.

[Neu Leonstein]

Personally, I wouldn't mind, thus I wouldn't mind having unisex bathrooms.

I've used them and it's been fine, though none of them featured urinals. And that's my main concern: urinals are practical but one way or another, they are generally more useful for males than for females and so you'd never be able to get completely equal treatment without eliminating them, as the OP suggested. And that seems silly - there is only losing and no gaining to be done as a result of that.

[Gim]

Personally, I wouldn't mind, thus I wouldn't mind having unisex bathrooms.

I've used them and it's been fine, though none of them featured urinals. And that's my main concern: urinals are practical but one way or another, they are generally more useful for males than for females and so you'd never be able to get completely equal treatment without eliminating them, as the OP suggested. And that seems silly - there is only losing and no gaining to be done as a result of that.

That's absurd. Just build more cubicles. Women don't have to urinate using urinals. That's unfair for them.

[Neu Leonstein]

That's absurd. Just build more cubicles. Women don't have to urinate using urinals. That's unfair for them.

But it would be far less efficient to only have cubicles, no? Especially the urinal walls that are popular in bars, clubs and stadiums can support a huge amount of peeing per area. But they'd be of very little use to women. If you replaced them with cubicles, you'd probably fit at most like a quarter of the peeing public into the same bathroom.

[Gim]

That's absurd. Just build more cubicles. Women don't have to urinate using urinals. That's unfair for them.

But it would be far less efficient to only have cubicles, no? Especially the urinal walls that are popular in bars, clubs and stadiums can support a huge amount of peeing per area. But they'd be of very little use to women. If you replaced them with cubicles, you'd probably fit at most like a quarter of the peeing public into the same bathroom.

It's better than having women urinate in urinals. It's very humiliating for them, although men will be excited to see them.

[Neu Leonstein]

It's better than having women urinate in urinals. It's very humiliating for them, although men will be excited to see them.

Some men, anyway...

No, I think if we want to retain urinals as a thing, we're probably better off only having them in specific bathrooms. After all, in that situation women would still have to line up and wait for cubicles to free up, except now they end up with a bunch of peeing dudes next to them, and I can't imagine that'd be much of an improvement. I think a better solution would be to retain separate bathrooms, but making women's bathrooms larger, so they can support a larger number of cubicles and maybe make the lines shorter for them.

[Gim]

It's better than having women urinate in urinals. It's very humiliating for them, although men will be excited to see them.

Some men, anyway...

No, I think if we want to retain urinals as a thing, we're probably better off only having them in specific bathrooms. After all, in that situation women would still have to line up and wait for cubicles to free up, except now they end up with a bunch of peeing dudes next to them, and I can't imagine that'd be much of an improvement. I think a better solution would be to retain separate bathrooms, but making women's bathrooms larger, so they can support a larger number of cubicles and maybe make the lines shorter for them.

Now, I see why the bathrooms are separate for each gender.
Good learning for me.

[Furry Alairia and Algeria]

You sort of have a leg to stand on with the unisex bathroom thing, I suppose. But regarding scrapping urinals you're out of your mind. Reduce efficiency just so people don't get offended? Yeah, no. Urinals designed with women in mind have been attempted, they just never catch on because women dislike them and prefer nice long 10-15 minute bathroom breaks.

In the event that this proposal ever saw the light a few decades down the line, urinals should be included, so as to mitigate the absurdly long wait times that will almost inevitably result. If females are actually that broken up over guys getting to piss at a urinal to get in and out quickly, they can always get one of those wearable funnel things.

In my own opinion, the same way there will be bloody tampons in the garbage, then there will be urinals.

[Katyuscha]

They're not really much of a problem, though I wouldn't care if they were unisex

[Noraika]

Been in unisex bathrooms. Been in gender segregated bathrooms.

Not really an issue, at least not really one worth of having an proper debate over.

[Lavochkin]

I don't think people would be very comfortable sharing bathrooms. Most families can't even handle having two genders in one bathroom at one time.

[Great Nepal]

Meh. I still don't think that bathrooms should be desegged. Just make the bathrooms bigger. Won't that be fairer for the females, anyway? If you always needed evidence for everything, you would get nowhere. "I'm pretty sure Taylor Lautner is a female. Why? Her name is 'Taylor.'" Sheesh. Don't you ever get anywhere?

Making bathrooms big enough for both sexes to use the restroom in comfortable spaces would cost more than normal bathrooms. And it would take more space, something managers and architects don't like.

Or you know just change the signs on the doors so you end up with two bathrooms that anyone can use?

[Dyakovo]

No, there is a man, and a woman, they have separate bathrooms, and different bodies.

So I'm sure you can tell us what is so different about men's and women's bodies that requires them to use separate facilities to relieve themselves...

So deal with it, they have separate bathrooms, and it doesn't separate society, like racial segregation would.

Actually, it separates society exactly like racial segregation did. People are separated based on superficial aspects of their appearance.

Every single normal person is fine with the concept of a bathroom for men, and a bathroom for women.

The fact that there are people in this very thread arguing against segregated restrooms proves you wrong.

[Esternial]

Getting unified bathrooms wouldn't be that much of a hassle. There might be a slight inconvenience when it comes to waiting times, since urinals are generally more space-efficient.

My university housing uses unified bathrooms, which also have showers in them. It's not that big of a deal. People just have to get used to the idea.

[Katganistan]

I'm sorry, I'm uncomfortable enough when I'm standing there taking a leak and another guy decides to take a piss next to me. Even the thought of a woman coming into the room... *makes awkward face. Any way. I also agree with the people on here talking about rape. I've seen absolute FREAKS just standing there watching other guys walk in/ do their business/ wash hands... I've seen the face of RAPE!!! TRUST ME LADIES...!!! YOU DONT WANT UNSEGREDATED FACILITIES!!!!!!!

You don't think there are female creepers too?

[Purpelia]

Urinals are disgusting and they need to go. And if desegregating bathrooms is the thing that makes this happen I am all for it.

[Katganistan]

Y Yeah, no. Urinals designed with women in mind have been attempted, they just never catch on because women dislike them and prefer nice long 10-15 minute bathroom breaks.

1) I have ned never heard of, much less seen, a urinal designed for women before this thread.
2) Who in their right mind wants to spend 15 minutes in a cold, horridly lit, unpleasantly smelling of disinfectant and more place for elimination of bodily waste? Methinks your bias is showing.

Actually, when my group of mixed friends goes to the movies, we ladies are usually outside on the benches waiting for the gents to return. Get in, get 'er done, get out.

It's better than having women urinate in urinals. It's very humiliating for them, although men will be excited to see them.

How is it any more humiliating for a woman to squat over a femail urinal than for a guy to be pulling his penis out and holding it while he stands in the "firing line" at the urinal?

Please explain.

[Gim]

Y Yeah, no. Urinals designed with women in mind have been attempted, they just never catch on because women dislike them and prefer nice long 10-15 minute bathroom breaks.

1) I have ned never heard of, much less seen, a urinal designed for women before this thread.
2) Who in their right mind wants to spend 15 minutes in a cold, horridly lit, unpleasantly smelling of disinfectant and more place for elimination of bodily waste? Methinks your bias is showing.

Actually, when my group of mixed friends goes to the movies, we ladies are usually outside on the benches waiting for the gents to return. Get in, get 'er done, get out.

It's better than having women urinate in urinals. It's very humiliating for them, although men will be excited to see them.

How is it any more humiliating for a woman to squat over a femail urinal than for a guy to be pulling his penis out and holding it while he stands in the "firing line" at the urinal?

Please explain.

Women have to face their private part forward when urinating on a urinal; men face their backs while peeing. There is a greater chance of female private parts being exposed than those of males.

[Aethrys]

Y Yeah, no. Urinals designed with women in mind have been attempted, they just never catch on because women dislike them and prefer nice long 10-15 minute bathroom breaks.

1) I have ned never heard of, much less seen, a urinal designed for women before this thread.
2) Who in their right mind wants to spend 15 minutes in a cold, horridly lit, unpleasantly smelling of disinfectant and more place for elimination of bodily waste? Methinks your bias is showing.

Actually, when my group of mixed friends goes to the movies, we ladies are usually outside on the benches waiting for the gents to return. Get in, get 'er done, get out.

Could be lazy slackers untroubled by their surroundings so long as they have their phones. Could be mysterious feminine wiles. Who's to say for sure, really?

[Varisea]

No, there is a man, and a woman, they have separate bathrooms, and different bodies.

So I'm sure you can tell us what is so different about men's and women's bodies that requires them to use separate facilities to relieve themselves...

So deal with it, they have separate bathrooms, and it doesn't separate society, like racial segregation would.

Actually, it separates society exactly like racial segregation did. People are separated based on superficial aspects of their appearance.

Every single normal person is fine with the concept of a bathroom for men, and a bathroom for women.

The fact that there are people in this very thread arguing against segregated restrooms proves you wrong.

"Superficial?" Clearly our Sex Ed curiculum needs serious reform.
Also, the thing about eliminating urinals is absurd. Heck, this whole conversation is pretty rediculus. There are more important issues: ISIS, the European migrant crisis, America's monthly spree shootings, climate change, actual discrimination.

[Dyakovo]

So I'm sure you can tell us what is so different about men's and women's bodies that requires them to use separate facilities to relieve themselves...

Actually, it separates society exactly like racial segregation did. People are separated based on superficial aspects of their appearance.

The fact that there are people in this very thread arguing against segregated restrooms proves you wrong.

"Superficial?" Clearly our Sex Ed curiculum needs serious reform.
Also, the thing about eliminating urinals is absurd. Heck, this whole conversation is pretty rediculus. There are more important issues: ISIS, the European migrant crisis, America's monthly spree shootings, climate change, actual discrimination.

Yes, superficial. Also, if you don't think this topic is worthy of your time, there's nothing stopping you from simply not posting here.

[USS Monitor]

But it would be far less efficient to only have cubicles, no? Especially the urinal walls that are popular in bars, clubs and stadiums can support a huge amount of peeing per area. But they'd be of very little use to women. If you replaced them with cubicles, you'd probably fit at most like a quarter of the peeing public into the same bathroom.

It's better than having women urinate in urinals. It's very humiliating for them, although men will be excited to see them.

Having both stalls and urinals would not force anyone to use the urinals. If a urinal is open, but you prefer to wait for a stall, then just wait for a stall. If the person behind you wants to use the urinal, they can just go past you. As long as there is a decent number of stalls, I don't see a problem with also having urinals.

[USS Monitor]

Y Yeah, no. Urinals designed with women in mind have been attempted, they just never catch on because women dislike them and prefer nice long 10-15 minute bathroom breaks.

1) I have ned never heard of, much less seen, a urinal designed for women before this thread.

Neither have I, and it doesn't sound like a good idea. I've seen a lot of different designs of toilets -- both with seats and squat toilets -- but not a urinal designed for women.