Public Restrooms

Why females are more likely to wait outside of a public restroom?

In public places such as malls, sporting arenas, restaurants, train stations, we often observe a common phenomenon – long lines outside the female restrooms.  Have you ever question why it’s much often to see a long line outside the female restrooms?   

let’s start by listening o this TED Talk: How architecture can create dignity for all 

First of all, applaud to him for discussing this topic! 

Cary points out that majority of those who are responsible of building restrooms in public places are male.  Therefore, this century-long agony has stubbornly stayed within the female community.  One alarming fact mentioned by Cary is that approximately 80% of architects in the US are male. Then, everything is much clearer now.  How can we expect someone who has never experienced the struggle to figure out the problem and solve it for us? 

So, what causes the longer line outside of women’s restroom?

a. Men’s restrooms accommodate more: men’s restroom has both urinals and stalls to accommodate the needs, and it takes less space to build urinals.

b. Biological difference: female requires more time spent in the restroom. While men can go to the urinals to unzip their pants and take care their business, it takes average 1.5 to 2 times longer for female

c. Lack of favorable design for women: most of the buildings (especially older buildings) were designed and built by men. There may be lack of user experience testing. But, the bigger picture is that we have accepted the situation for too long.

Now that we know the reasons, what’s next? Here’re some of my thoughts on how to bring dignity to the bathroom business.

1. Update plumbing code and building code: policy makers need to recognize the urgency to put more restrooms.  Both the International Building Code and the US Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) do not put consideration on the gender factor when setting the minimum number of water closets (toilets) in most cases.   We just hope that the updating of the regulation will come sooner rather than later

2. Giving voices to all: make the minority and less represented voices be heard!  More forums and platforms should be created to foster a diversified environment.  Only when our needs are heard, things can change

3. Encourage more architects: when we have a more diverse workplace, we will have a balanced solution to a problem.  This extend to not only having more architects to solve public restroom problems, we should but also consider other professions that are predominantly one gender over other, such as medicine, politics, education, engineering, high-tech sectors…

4. Resist the social complacency:  although we all have lived through the agony of waiting in line to use the restroom, many of us have accepted the fact.  It’s time for us to stand up and demand what it’s right.  Recognizing it is the first step for change.  And change happens when we are determined. 

From knowing the reason for long waiting line, we learned that there are much we can do to shake it and change it.