It is commonly taught that modern Western societies are no longer segregated. However, this is a lie. Society might no longer be racially segregated, but bathrooms remain segregated. Males can only use one of two sets of bathrooms in a building/floor, and females can only use the other of the two sets.
Is this a problem?
I think it is. Segregated bathrooms must end.
Segregated bathrooms will continue to promote divisions in society between the genders and the sexes; they are also unacceptably callous towards people who might not identify comfortably with either of the two genders/sexes or who may look different from the side they would rather identify with. It is a pointless exercise in social division. What is the point in keeping bathrooms separate? It does nothing but reinforce labels.
There is another problem. It is unfair for the females. Females generally wait longer than males to use the facilities; this is discrimination. I can speak from personal experience. Having traveled to many parts of the planet it always seems the case that the line-up for the female side is much longer. Why is this? Well its because of the design. Facilities are separate but NOT equal. Male facilities have exclusive access to urinals and so the line up is shorter. The true solution to equality is to have one bathroom for all genders and to remove the urinals (females can't use them anyway and they provide an unfair advantage to a set of the population in wait time). This way, EVERYONE gets an average wait time for relief that is approximately equal and that isn't affected by the availability of equipment. You can still maintain two washrooms per building but EVERYONE should be allowed to use either one and they should both be completely stocked with bowls.
Bathrooms should be unified. What are people scared of?
So here is the discussion question.
1. Are segregated bathrooms a problem?
2. What should/can be done to reform current facilities to promote equality?
