Women's Public Restrooms in America

story story aQUIETrevolution: women’s public restrooms in America by Kathryn H. Anthony Each year the President of the United States delivers HIS State of the Union speech before the U.S. Congress. If I were President, my speech would include an annual state of our nation’s public restrooms. I would bring up the current state of America’s public restrooms in dire need of reform. It is currently in transition and that progress especially for women and families, has just been all too slow.

Fig. 01 Long lines outside the women’s restroom are Fig. 02 Chan Centre for the Performing Arts restroom, Fig. 03 This unusual woman-friendly toilet stall provides common anywhere crowds gather, a form of subtle gender University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, recessed shelving for purses, shopping bags, and back packs. discrimination. New potty parity laws in several states and Canada It should be a standard feature in all women’s restrooms. cities in the USA have helped remedy this problem but they Carlsbad Premium Outlets, Carlsbad, California, USA should be required nationwide and around the world. Photo Courtesy Kathryn H. Anthony Photo Courtesy Ivan Hunter Photo Courtesy Kathryn H. Anthony

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American men and women are impacted and child-friendly features. In addition, ratios of two women’s toilet stalls to one differently but affected nonetheless by there is also an emerging trend of family men’s stall, while others require a 3:2 or the availability of public restrooms and and unisex restrooms coming up. simply a 1:1 ratio. A range of definitions their design and maintenance. But this exists about which places are required to still means women suffer the bigger Other problems include few available achieve potty parity and this raises a key brunt of the struggle to answer nature’s public restrooms in most American cities legal question of what exactly constitutes call; accompanying children and elderly and limited accessibility for persons with equality in restrooms. Is it equal square relatives are part of the dominant factors disabilities despite the passage of the footage, equal toilets, or equal waiting that contribute to this discomforting 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act; time? One of the best models is inconvenience that translates to long unfortunately space here prohibits our Wisconsin’s law defining potty parity in queues (Fig. 1). discussion of these important issues. terms of equal speed of access for women and men. My recommendation is at least It is a form of subtle gender discrimination, About 21 of our 50 states and several a 2:1 or a 3:2 ratio. that few women-friendly and family- major cities, including New York and friendly restrooms are designed and put Chicago, recently passed potty parity As a matter of fact, stronger legistation in place. On the bright side, promising laws requiring greater access to women’s for this push for potty parity exists in solutions include potty parity laws restrooms. California was the first state to revised building codes that could set and revised building codes that host do so in 1987. New York City’s law passed standards for all buildings in all states. exemplary facilities with women-friendly in 2005. Most states with new laws require The 2003 International Building Code

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Fig. 07 Family restroom allows parent and child to use toilet Fig. 08 Waiting area outside family restroom. Market Place Fig. 09 Companion-care restroom at O’Hare Airport’s G at same time. Market Place Mall, Champaign, Illinois, USA Mall, Champaign, Illinois. USA Concourse, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Note safe-seat for child on right.

Photo Courtesy Meghan Dufresne Photo Courtesy Meghan Dufresne Photo Courtesy Kathryn H. Anthony

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Fig. 04 Baby changing station at Easton Towne Center, Fig. 05 Diaper-changing areas should be included in both Fig. 06 Kellogg Park Comfort Station in La Jolla, California, Columbus, Ohio, USA men’s and women’s restrooms to make it easier for fathers as USA, built in 2005, is an excellent example of unisex restrooms well as mothers to assist with child care. Parents who change directly accessed from outdoors that eliminate long lines for their babies’ diapers while away from home often find the ladies’ rooms and makes public restrooms safer places for availability, design and maintenance of public restrooms women, men, and children. problematic. Photo Courtesy America’s Best Restroom Photo Courtesy Nana Kirk Photo Courtesy Kathryn H. Anthony

(IBC) calls for more water closets for both Projects Consultants, designed a unique prone to germ transmission. men and women in stadiums than had set of restrooms at the Chan Centre been previously required. As much as it for Performing Arts at the University of Hooks should be mounted at heights appears to be more demanding, the IBC’s British Columbia, Canada, opened in easily accessible to women of varied “Minimum Number of Required Plumbing 1997. Sinks are located in an attractive sizes. All too often they are thoughtlessly Facilities” still calls only for equal numbers circular arrangement, opening up the installed too high where only tall men of water closets for men and women in floor space around it. The washrooms are can reach them. Hand dryers, whether air nightclubs, bars, taverns, dance halls, as even featured on the theater’s web site dryers or towel dispensers also need to well as in restaurants, banquet halls, and (Fig. 02). be at appropriate heights and as close to food courts, where long ladies’ restroom sinks as possible; many women complain lines are still common. This still leaves us For public restrooms with multiple stalls, of dripping water down their sleeves while with serious shortcomings. such as those at theaters and airports hunting for the hand dryer. where large crowds gather fast during Potty parity laws are not in place in most specific intervals, designing oversized Now for family-friendly restrooms, several states just yet but they are definitely entries and exits along with wide major American family restaurant chains needed nationwide and around the world. circulation areas around the sinks and now include diaper-changing areas Moreover, almost all potty parity laws stalls is key. Sufficient room is needed for with pullout changing fixtures in their apply only to new construction or major women to exit while others wait to enter restrooms. More rare but far better are renovations of large public buildings taking into account that some of these fixed countertops or tables with sturdy where at least half the building is being users may be in wheelchairs or strollers. surfaces made of Corian or steel and remodeled. Most older buildings remain a ledge to prevent infants from falling. unaffected and women are still forced to Some state of the art, women-friendly One of the best designed, most spacious wait in line which means possible health restroom designs are found at America’s baby changing stations is at Easton risks. regional shopping centers as well.One of Towne Center in Columbus, Ohio, a 2003 the best examples is Carlsbad Premium nominee for America’s Best Restroom According to the National Institutes Outlets in Carlsbad, California, just north (Fig. 4). of Health, urinary tract infections, of San Diego. It features an upscale décor constipation; abdominal pain; diverticuli; with louvered doors on all toilet stalls such Some restaurants only provide baby hemorrhoids and other health problems as one might find at a luxury hotel. Inside changing facilities in women’s restrooms can result if individuals delay voiding. each toilet stall is an attractive tile wall. but not in men’s, yet another form of Behind each toilet is a wide, recessed gender discrimination. They should The American Restroom Association shelf covered by guardrails to hold purses be provided equally in both men’s reports that restroom duress is a major and shopping bags so they are off the and women’s restrooms to allow both concern for women. Those who are floor—a problem rarely addressed by parents to change diapers (Fig. 5). Many pregnant, middle aged or elderly; designers but one that should be included independently run restaurants, as well as experiencing irregular menses; on in all women’s restrooms. Grab bars assist stores, park shelters and other spaces medication for high blood pressure; elderly and persons with disabilities (Fig. ignore young families, forcing parents suffering from bowel bladder cancer; 3). to change their babies’ diapers on dirty bowel incontinence; urinary tract bathroom floors where they pick up infections; ulcerative colitis and other To make toilets even more women-friendly, germs. It is thus not surprising that after ailments constitute a significant portion installing at least two hooks in each toilet excursions away from home, so many of the world’s population. While potty stall (one for outerwear such as jackets children wind up with colds and stomach parity laws and updated building codes and coats, and another for purses and trouble. Some parents give up and prefer reflect substantial progress for women by bags) will definitely help. But when hooks to change their infants in their cars or increasing the quantity of available toilet are missing or broken (as is often the vans, an option not possible for those stalls, they have not yet improved the case) these items end up on the floor—a who take public transit. quality of women’s restrooms. problem men using urinals generally do not have. And given what University of Baby changing stations need to be On this matter, there are some theater Arizona environmental microbiologist located as close as possible to sinks so designers who have begun to pay greater Charles Gerba’s pioneering research has that parents can wash their hands quickly. attention to these issues. In an attempt demonstrated—the highest levels of Space is needed to hang or store diaper to reduce ladies’ room lines, Bing Thom microorganisms in public restrooms are bags and to place children’s shoes, Architects of Vancouver, along with ARTEC found on floors in front of toilets—this clothes, baby wipes, and lotions up off the Consultants of New York and Theatre makes women and children even more floor and within easy reach while holding 38 I bathroom today I issue 2 2006 I MAY - SEP story story

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Photo Courtesy Meghan Dufresne Photo Courtesy Meghan Dufresne Photo Courtesy Kathryn H. Anthony

onto a squirming baby. Trash receptacles fear being harassed or physically attacked restrooms are sprouting up in airports and should be installed near baby changing in conventional single-sex restrooms. But regional shopping malls, they are usually stations so that parents easily can throw this leaves unisex facilities still by far the missing from other venues such as Amtrak away used diapers with one hand still on exception than the rule. train stations or Greyhound bus station Fig. 04 Baby changing station at Easton Towne Center, Fig. 05 Diaper-changing areas should be included in both Fig. 06 Kellogg Park Comfort Station in La Jolla, California, the child. Pull-down safe-seats in toilet that serve lower income visitors who may Columbus, Ohio, USA men’s and women’s restrooms to make it easier for fathers as USA, built in 2005, is an excellent example of unisex restrooms well as mothers to assist with child care. Parents who change directly accessed from outdoors that eliminate long lines for stalls make it possible for a young child to Anywhere parents or grandparents need them even more. Sadly, such public their babies’ diapers while away from home often find the ladies’ rooms and makes public restrooms safer places for accompany children, elderly or persons availability, design and maintenance of public restrooms women, men, and children. sit safely while a parent or sibling is using facilities are grossly underfunded and problematic. the toilet. with disabilities require assistance, or much less likely to receive allocations for Photo Courtesy America’s Best Restroom Photo Courtesy Nana Kirk Photo Courtesy Kathryn H. Anthony individuals have special health needs these much needed renovations. Changing stations are sometimes benefits from a family restroom. This is thoughtlessly installed in locations especially the case when genders are In sum, the public restroom needs of that frustrate parents. They should mixed, for example, a single mother American women and families have been accommodate both right and left handed escorting her young son, or an elderly ignored for too long. Simply finding a parents and be located away from wife accompanying her disabled husband. public restroom in a typical American city restroom entrances to avoid passersby Family restrooms can include multiple can be difficult indeed, and in that sense, from distracting already fidgeting babies. unisex toilet rooms and often share America lags far behind other countries a common hand washing and diaper such as Japan where public restrooms Recently, an emerging trend for unisex and changing area. Upscale family facilities are a high priority. But given the trends family restrooms has been identified. It may include family lounges, private shown here, in coming decades the state sure is one way to eliminate long lines and nursing rooms, and baby changing areas. of our nation’s restrooms should surpass a movement rapidly gaining momentum. Some double up child and adult height what we see today. A quiet restroom Unisex restrooms are single-user toilet toilets, lavatories, and hand dryers, revolution is needed and it may already rooms that can be used by either men making them unusually child-friendly. be underway. or women. They are safer as they lack a shared indoor space where criminal Despite the longstanding need for such behavior often occurs, and they also facilities, legislation for family restroom discourage vagrancy. The 1998 murder of a construction was only passed in 2003 and young boy at a beach campground public only for those states that have adopted restroom in Oceanside, California made the 2003 International Building Code. national headlines and underscores the Such legislation requires unisex restrooms need for more unisex facilities. A drifter for all newly constructed or renovated— killed the nine-year old boy in the men’s when restrooms are added-assembly and restroom while, sadly, his aunt awaited retail spaces like malls, theaters, airports him outside, only footsteps away. and stadiums. Just as with potty parity, however, most of the current building At Kellogg Park in La Jolla Shores, one of stock, including restaurants, remains San Diego, California’s busiest beaches unaffected. Ideally all new restaurants with two to three million visitors annually, with sizeable seating areas should include an aging facility with separate men’s a family or unisex restroom as well. and women’s rooms was replaced in 2005 with nine unisex stalls, two family Family restrooms are seen as selling restrooms that accommodate persons points for commercial establishments with disabilities, sinks, and six showers. and are even touted on web sites of Each is directly accessed from outdoors San Diego’s Petco Park, home of the (Fig. 6). Architect Dale Naegle along with Padres baseball team; Pigeon Forge, local resident Mary Coakley designed the Tennessee’s Dollywood theme park; and new structure. Coakley collaborated with the Minneapolis-St. Paul’s Mall of America, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the the nation’s largest shopping mall. Market Birch Aquarium, local sculptors, artists, Place Mall in Champaign, Illinois features and landscape designers to install a well designed family restrooms that allow lithocrete map showing dive sights of the parents and children to use the toilet at world-famous nearby Underwater Park the same time (Fig. 7). It also features an and Ecological Reserve. The map will attractive waiting area outside the family, be located directly adjacent to the new men’s and women’s restrooms. (Fig. 8). comfort station, creating an ensemble Author bio: Kathryn H. Anthony, Ph.D., is Professor of Companion care toilets are now found at Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Gender and that is not only functional but also a work Women’s Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana- of art, an educational resource, and a Chicago’s O’Hare airport (Fig. 9). Seattle’s Champaign, USA. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Restroom Association. Her tourist attraction. Sea-Tac Airport recently renovated 32 publications on gender and family issues in restrooms restrooms to include family restrooms with include articles in Licensed Architect, Journal of Planning Literature, and Conference Proceedings of the 2005 Picking up the trend on unisex baby changing tables, touchless faucets, World Toilet Forum and Expo in Shanghai, China. She bathrooms, several American college convenient bag shelves, attractive tile first became interested in this subject at age three during a family vacation to Greece, where, as her parents can campuses have begun designating more finishes, and Pacific Northwest artwork in still attest, she refused to use some offensive public unisex or gender-neutral bathrooms in glass and ceramic tiles. restrooms. For questions you might have or opinions you would like to exchange, please write to the author at response to needs of their gay, bisexual, [email protected] or transgender student populations who Major challenges remain. While family

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